Palestinian officials appeal to foreign governments as Israelis return to the polls – National

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged international governments to take a “clear and firm position” on escalating violence in the West Bank just days before Israel’s parliamentary elections.

A day after an attack by Palestinian gunmen that killed two soldiers, Israel imposed a widespread lockdown, with more than 1,000 residents taking refuge in the city of Hebron.

All gates in and out of the city were closed to vehicles, according to Radio Basma, a Telegram channel used by Palestinians to monitor checkpoints and road closures. The mayor of Hebron accused Israel of besieging his city.

On Friday, the Israeli army said that in response to the attack, its forces had begun “conducting a precise, targeted and thorough search” of the area where the gunmen were operating.

In a statement on social media, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Israel’s actions included “forced displacement and destruction, as well as the closure of the holy site of the Ibrahimi Mosque.”

The ministry accused the Israeli army of targeting Palestinians and their property, and warned against a repeat of what it called “ongoing crimes in the Gaza Strip.”

The statement said Israel “is taking steps to reproduce the Nakba with renewed military and colonial tools, amidst Israel’s electoral race and attempts to gain political advantage at the expense of Palestinian national rights.”

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The escalating conflict comes just three days before Israelis vote in national elections.

Polls show three years of war have eroded support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

With more than 1,500 Palestinians killed in Gaza since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025, Israelis in Canada say they are voting again in an election that feels like a “last chance.”

The death toll comes from the Gaza Ministry of Health. The ministry keeps detailed records and is generally considered reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. As part of the Hamas-run government, the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants but says women and children account for nearly half of the dead.

“This feels like the last chance, the last heartbeat, to defeat Netanyahu’s movement and get this country back on track. The desperation is palpable. This is always stressful and difficult, but right now it really seems like the last chance,” one Israeli-Canadian told the Associated Press.

He said his family, most of whom still live in Israel, had begged him to return and vote.

“And I just realized that it would be really annoying if I kept saying no, no and no,” he said.

Even though Israelis live outside the Middle East, they still feel the impact of the so-called “revenge” against Gaza.

“I’m embarrassed to say that I’m from Israel,” he said. “I feel like I have to apologize. I’m sorry because I come from a country that does horrible things.”

He said he owed it to his friends, family and fellow Israelis to return and have his vote counted.

Netanyahu, 77, is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and longtime leader of the Likud Party.

In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has also been embroiled in years-long legal battles at home, accused of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies any wrongdoing.

Netanyahu’s main opponent in the election is Gadi Eisenkot, 66, who is positioning himself as a moderate alternative.

Eisenkot rose through the ranks of the Israeli military, and eventually became chief of staff.

He also served as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet, but resigned after eight months, accusing the prime minister of not having a clear strategy.

Also present at the vote were former prime minister Naftali Bennett, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab-Muslim political party Ra’am.

– With files from The Associated Press

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