Key facts
- Israelis vote Tuesday in the first election since the October 7 Hamas attack.
- The attack killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
- Many voters blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for security failures.
- Opposition parties aim to unseat Netanyahu but face political stalemate.
- Survivors and hostage families are calling for accountability.
Israelis are voting on Tuesday in the country's first election since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. For many, including survivors and families of victims, the election represents an opportunity to hold Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for the security failures that preceded the assault. Despite opinion polls suggesting a decline in support for Netanyahu's Likud party, a clear path to power for opposition parties is not evident, raising the prospect of continued political stalemate. Netanyahu has rejected blame for the breach and resisted calls for an independent investigation, asserting that his policies will lead to a more peaceful Middle East.