Israel: October 7 families remember victims as voters head to polls
In Tel Aviv, families affected by the 7 October 2023 attacks observed a moment of silence as polling stations were opening across Israel for the general election.
Families affected by the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 gathered in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to honour relatives killed that day, observing a minute's silence before joining together in song beside a white installation bearing the date “ 7.10.23 ”.
Holding photographs of their loved ones, participants included Yona Adam , whose daughter Mapal was killed at the Nova music festival, and Einav Zangauker , mother of former hostage Matan Zangauker.
The commemoration took place as Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday, 27 October , for their first general election since the attacks , voting to elect the 26th Knesset .
In Kiryat Arba , an Israeli settlement near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, voters queued outside polling stations. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also cast his ballot in the nationalist-right stronghold.
In Umm al-Fahm , an Arab-majority city in northern Israel, election officials prepared ballot papers at al-Aqwas school before voters entered to cast their votes. Similar scenes unfolded at polling stations in Jerusalem .
Exit polls are expected at 21:00 CET on Tuesday, although it could take weeks before a new government is formed .
