Gadi Eisenkot gains a parliamentary majority in Israel. He is supported by Arab parties

Israeli media report that the Ra’am party and the Democrats support Gadi Eisenkot in forming a new government. The United Torah Judaism party, allied with outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu, has refused to back any candidates. Eisenkot, a former military chief, faces challenges in coalition-building, particularly regarding Hamas. President Isaac Herzog is consulting all parties before deciding who to task with forming the government after inconclusive elections. Mansour Abbas of Ra’am called for disarming Hamas but avoided labeling it as a terrorist organization, creating tension with Eisenkot, who demands this recognition for coalition participation. The recent elections resulted in no clear majority, with Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats and Eisenkot's 48. Netanyahu accused Arab parties of electoral fraud, claiming foreign interference and warning against a government reliant on Arab parties, which he believes could threaten Israel's stability.