Politics · Other · 1 day ago
October 7 attack shapes Israeli first-time voters’ security concerns
Israelis aged 18 to 22 will vote for the first time in October, three years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
The attack killed 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is under Hamas authority; the United Nations considers its figures reliable.
Many young Israeli voters say the attack has made them more concerned about security.
One 18-year-old, Amihai, says he plans to vote for the ultra-nationalist party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
A Channel 12 poll found that 74% of first-time voters described their views as right or centre-right.
Analyst Dahlia Scheindlin says this political shift among Israeli Jewish youth has been building for about two decades, while some young activists still support a political agreement with the Palestinians.
The vote is scheduled for October 27.
October 7, 2023, has made security a central concern for many Israelis voting for the first time in 2026.
Amihai, an 18-year-old from southern Israel, says he plans to vote for the far-right party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
A Channel 12 poll found that 74% of first-time voters described their views as right or centre-right.
Pollster Dahlia Scheindlin says Israeli Jewish youth have been moving right for around two decades, while young activist Gili says the attack has increased fear and weakened belief in peace.
- Who
- Israelis voting for the first time, including 18-year-old Amihai and young activist Gili.
- What
- October 7’s effects are shaping first-time voters’ security concerns and political views.
- When
- The reports were published on October 10, 2026; the election is scheduled for October 27.
- Where
- Israel, including Shomria in the south and Tel Aviv.
- Why
- The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack has heightened fear and security concerns among young voters.
Amihai and other right-leaning first-time voters
Gili and young Democrats activists
Security and political direction
Amihai and other right-leaning first-time voters
Amihai says security is his priority and plans to vote for Ben Gvir’s far-right party.
Gili and young Democrats activists
Gili says the attack has made young people afraid and less likely to believe peace is possible.
Approach to the conflict
Amihai and other right-leaning first-time voters
Amihai calls for deterrence and wants people to leave Gaza.
Gili and young Democrats activists
Gili and her fellow activists support a political agreement with the Palestinians and say conflict management is not a solution.
I’m voting based solely on security — not for whoever will help me buy an apartment in 10 years, but for whoever can guarantee that I’ll even still be alive here in 10 years
Peace is not in people’s minds.
I think especially young people, when they see something so huge happening, something that hurts so deeply and affects everyone, like what happened on Oct 7, then the first tendency is fear, to be afraid, and not to believe that peace is possible
Conflict management is not a solution, and I don’t think the current situation can go on
Hamas carried out an attack in Israel, which the Straits Times says killed 1,221 people, citing an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Young activists for the Democrats party gathered in Tel Aviv, where Gili spoke about fear and peace.
The Times of Israel and the Straits Times published reports on first-time voters’ views.
Amihai is scheduled to cast his ballot.
- First-time voters
- More than 500,000 Israelis aged 18 to 22 are expected to vote for the first time; the Straits Times reports an estimate of roughly 550,000.
- Channel 12 poll
- 74% of first-time voters described their views as right or centre-right.
- Amihai
- 18-year-old from Shomria in southern Israel; says he plans to vote for Itamar Ben Gvir’s party.
- Election date
- October 27, 2026
- October 7 attack deaths
- 1,221, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures reported by the Straits Times.
Sources
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