Eisenkot challenges Netanyahu ahead of high-stakes Israeli election

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Israel's Yashar Party, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "spreading lies" and "rewriting history," as Israel entered the final countdown on Sunday ahead of the national election widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership and security policies.

With voters heading to the polls on Tuesday, Eisenkot rallied supporters in Tel Aviv, positioning his party as a moderate alternative to the incumbent government.

Addressing a crowd waving Israeli flags Eisenkot accused Netanyahu's government of failing to "dismantle Hamas" and dividing the country.

He warned that Israel faces a "sea" of internal and external threats and insisted the current leadership is unfit to confront them.

Netanyahu countered the opposition by highlighting national security.

Visiting an Arrow missile defence battery on Sunday, Netanyahu warned adversaries against interfering with the democratic process.

Netanyahu stated that Israeli intelligence indicated "Iran and its proxies" might attempt attacks to disrupt the vote.

He declared that the military was prepared to defend and strike, warning enemies they would suffer "disproportionate blows" if they tested Israel.

The election buildup coincided with escalating military operations across the region.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces expanded a major operation in Hebron following a gun attack that killed two soldiers.

Troops operated across more than 400 locations, sealing city entrances and displacing over 2,600 residents.

Simultaneously, air strikes continued in Gaza, where hospital officials reported 7 people killed and 8 wounded across multiple locations, including a strike on the Islamic University in Gaza City and further attacks in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah.