Despite the horrors of Oct. 7, the political loyalties of many Gaza border residents have not changed

A Times of Israel report examines how the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has affected political loyalties among Gaza border residents ahead of Israel's October 27 election. While some residents have moved rightward, others like Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak survivor Zamir Haimi remain left-leaning, planning to vote for the Democrats. In Sderot, a Likud stronghold, support for Netanyahu remains strong. A survey found 76.8% of Gaza border residents have little trust in the national government.

Three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, the political loyalties of many Gaza border residents have not fundamentally changed, according to a Times of Israel report. Zamir Haimi, 56, a farmer from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak who survived the attack with his family, said the experience made him 'less naive' but did not alter his left-leaning politics. He plans to vote for the Democrats, headed by Yair Golan, in the upcoming October 27 election. A second resident from Kibbutz Re'im, who asked to remain anonymous, also plans to vote for the Democrats, citing a deep erosion of trust in the national government. A July 2025 survey by Atid Laotef found that 76.8% of Gaza border residents have little or no trust in the national government, compared with 69% who trust local authorities. In contrast, in Sderot, a Likud stronghold, residents like Yehuda Gosman remain firmly right-wing, with many saying 'Only Bibi' when asked about their vote. The article notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has had limited direct outreach to the hardest-hit kibbutzim since the attack.