Palestinians fear Israeli election will deepen Gaza suffering

Israel's election campaign has largely ignored the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where nearly 75,000 Palestinians have been killed and a million displaced, as both leading candidates focus on vowing to end Hamas rule. Palestinians fear the outcome will bring no real change to their suffering. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party have both prioritized destroying Hamas following the October 7 attacks, with Eisenkot championing the "Dahiya doctrine" of overwhelming force against civilian areas. Neither candidate has presented a clear plan for Gaza's future, and both support Donald Trump's controversial peace plan. Gaza residents report suspended commercial deliveries, soaring food prices, and dwindling aid, with many too preoccupied by survival to follow the campaign. Some are postponing life events out of fear the election could trigger renewed war, as over 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed since October 2023.