Middle East: Election in Israel: Opposition politician Gantz withdraws from the race

Many details about the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates Election in Israel: Opposition politician Gantz withdraws from the race Dozens of dead and injured in Houthi attack in Yemen Israeli army raises alert ahead of the parliamentary election Lawrow arrives for talks in Tehran UN: Half a million people in the Gaza Strip lose food aid Election in Israel: Opposition politician Gantz withdraws from the race Eight days before the parliamentary election in Israel, opposition politician Benny Gantz announced his withdrawal from the race according to reports. He will not be running for office, cited several Israeli media outlets, the chairman of the Blue-and-White coalition. For some time, polls suggest that the coalition may fail to reach the 3.25% threshold and thus miss entering parliament. Several members have already left Blue-and-White. Former Defense Minister Gantz reportedly spoke again in favor of a united government in Israel. This refers to a government in which several major parties from opposing camps – for and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – join together. Netanyahu's main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, rejects such a united government. After the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel, Gantz and Eisenkot joined a state of emergency government. Later, both left the government again – due to disagreements with Netanyahu, for example about the future of the Gaza Strip. According to polls, neither Netanyahu's camp nor the opposition can expect an absolute majority in the election on October 27. Former Defense Minister Gantz reportedly spoke again in favor of a united government in Israel. This refers to a government in which several major parties from opposing camps – for and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – join together. Netanyahu's main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, rejects such a united government. After the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel, Gantz and Eisenkot joined a state of emergency government. Later, both left the government again – due to disagreements with Netanyahu, for example about the future of the Gaza Strip. According to polls, neither Netanyahu's camp nor the opposition can expect an absolute majority in the election on October 27. Benny Gantz (Archival photo). Photo: Nir Elias/Reuters Dozens of dead and injured in Houthi attack in Yemen In a missile attack by the Houthi militia in Yemen, dozens of soldiers from the internationally recognized government were killed or injured. Military circles reported that more than 30 soldiers were killed or injured. However, there was still uncertainty about the exact number of victims. Reuters reports 53 dead and more than 200 injured. A military spokesman stated that the Houthis attacked a training camp for police and security forces in the southern province of Shabwa with three missiles. The Houthi militia admitted to the attack and stated that the attack was against Saudi troops in the area. "The attacks will not prevent the state from protecting its citizens and restoring state institutions," Raschad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, told the news agency Saba. Videos showing scenes after the attack circulated on social media, reportedly showing numerous bodies. The civil war in Yemen has reignited in the context of the war with Iran. The Houthis, supported by Iran, took large parts of the west coast of the Red Sea in an offensive and advanced in other provinces as well. The government is trying to push the Houthis back with the help of allied militias and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis also attacked the important port city of Aden in the south as well as targets in Saudi Arabia, where there were deaths and injuries at the airport in Riyadh, among other things. A military spokesman stated that the Houthis attacked a training camp for police and security forces in the southern province of Shabwa with three missiles. The Houthi militia admitted to the attack and stated that the attack was against Saudi troops in the area. "The attacks will not prevent the state from protecting its citizens and restoring state institutions," Raschad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, told the news agency Saba. Videos showing scenes after the attack circulated on social media, reportedly showing numerous bodies. The civil war in Yemen has reignited in the context of the war with Iran. The Houthis, supported by Iran, took large parts of the west coast of the Red Sea in an offensive and advanced in other provinces as well. The government is trying to push the Houthis back with the help of allied militias and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis also attacked the important port city of Aden in the south as well as targets in Saudi Arabia, where there were deaths and injuries at the airport in Riyadh, among other things. Israeli army raises alert ahead of parliamentary election Out of fear of an escalation of the security situation around the parliamentary election on October 27, the Israeli army has raised its alert level. From Thursday, soldiers are not allowed to leave their units, as the military announced. Additionally, additional troops are to be deployed in the occupied West Bank. The goal is to ensure that the election can take place as planned and in safe conditions. Chief of Staff Ejal Zamir held a briefing on the security situation on the various fronts with senior military representatives, the army further reported. According to the Israeli television channel N12, the measures are driven by the fear of attacks that could influence the election. According to the news portal ynet, the troop reinforcement in the West Bank is also in the context of increasing attacks by radical Israeli settlers. Last week, Zamir had warned of an increased risk of escalation on various fronts during a visit to the central command level due to numerous warnings. The right-wing newspaper Makor Rishon reported that the greatest fear was possible extraordinary attacks by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas on Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli television channel N12, the measures are driven by the fear of attacks that could influence the election. According to the news portal ynet, the troop reinforcement in the West Bank is also in the context of increasing attacks by radical Israeli settlers. Last week, Zamir had warned of an increased risk of escalation on various fronts during a visit to the central command level due to numerous warnings. The right-wing newspaper Makor Rishon reported that the greatest fear was possible extraordinary attacks by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas on Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. Lawrow arrives for talks in Tehran Amid ongoing military tensions between the US and Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Tehran for a visit. The Russian minister landed in the Iranian capital in the early afternoon (local time), as local media reported unanimously. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Lawrow's visit includes talks on the implementation of bilateral agreements and consultations on regional developments on the agenda. In addition to a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a conversation with President Masoud Peseshkian is also planned. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the talks are expected to concern, among other things, joint logistics and energy projects. Consultations on the situation in the Persian Gulf and ways out of the international crisis, which Moscow attributes to the "unlawful aggression of the US and Israel against Iran," are also planned. The Iranian leadership fears a new military escalation. Politicians and generals feared an attack by the US or Israel in recent days. US President Donald Trump had however stated at the beginning of October that the country did not want to attack before the congressional elections on November 3. For the Iranian government, the Kremlin is an important ally. In early 2025, Russia and Iran concluded an agreement on a strategic partnership that is intended to deepen military and economic cooperation for the next 20 years, among other things. However, unlike Russia's agreement with North Korea, it does not contain a no-support clause for the war. In recent years, both countries have drawn closer together in the face of international isolation. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Lawrow's visit includes talks on the implementation of bilateral agreements and consultations on regional developments on the agenda. In addition to a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a conversation with President Masoud Peseshkian is also planned. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the talks are expected to concern, among other things, joint logistics and energy projects. Consultations on the situation in the Persian Gulf and ways out of the international crisis, which Moscow attributes to the "unlawful aggression of the US and Israel against Iran," are also planned. The Iranian leadership fears a new military escalation. Politicians and generals feared an attack by the US or Israel in recent days. US President Donald Trump had however stated at the beginning of October that the country did not want to attack before the congressional elections on November 3. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (ret.) with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a meeting in Moscow at the end of 2025 (Archival photo). Uncredited/Pool Reuters/AP/dpa Anne Eberhard West Bank: Arrests after attacks on diplomats and journalists Following violent assaults on a US journalist and European diplomats in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli police arrested ten suspects. The arrests took place during a night operation by the police, army, and the Shin Bet internal intelligence service, according to the authorities. According to the Israeli military radio, the suspects are Israeli citizens. They were accused of violent acts and violation of military restrictions in restricted areas, among other things. Police Chief Daniel Levy emphasized that the law applies to everyone. Criminal proceedings against Israeli settlers in the West Bank are rare. On Friday, masked Israeli settlers attacked photojournalist Heidi Levine from the US newspaper Washington Post while she was reporting on a Palestinian olive harvest. Levine had to undergo surgery at the hospital. On Saturday, diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland as well as a French mayor in the West Bank were also attacked. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was damaged. The US and the affected European states demanded consequent action from the Israeli justice. On Friday, masked Israeli settlers attacked photojournalist Heidi Levine from the US newspaper Washington Post while she was reporting on a Palestinian olive harvest. Levine had to undergo surgery at the hospital. On Saturday, diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland as well as a French mayor in the West Bank were also attacked. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was damaged. The US and the affected European states demanded consequent action from the Israeli justice. US Photojournalist Heidi Levine injured in hospital. Ali Sawafta/REUTERS While the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the military "Israeli hooligans" blamed for the attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was more reserved. He stated that the diplomats had traveled to a sensitive conflict zone without consultation with the military. Furthermore, the background of the attack on Levine was unclear. Israel's President Isaac Herzog, however, apologized for the incident. According to the Israeli human rights organization Jesch Din, violence by settlers against Palestinians, journalists and foreign observers has recently increased significantly. Since September 27, at least 170 such attacks have been recorded. Anne Eberhard UN: Half a million people in the Gaza Strip lose food aid The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has drastically cut its aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip due to a lack of funds. Approximately 500,000 people lose their monthly food aid as a result, the UN organization reported. The number of recipients has fallen from 1.6 to 1.1 million. Furthermore, rations will be halved and financial support for 75,000 families will be cut. The number of daily hot meals provided will fall from 250,000 to 150,000. The WFP requires 450 million US dollars (around 400 million euros) for the next six months to continue life-saving aid in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to the World Food Programme, approximately 1.4 million people – i.e., two-thirds of the population of the coastal area – are currently suffering from a severe food crisis. Around 200,000 of them are in acute distress. "We are telling the world that now is not the time to look away," said WFP commissioner-director Carl Skau to the Reuters news agency in the Gaza Strip. A year after the ceasefire agreement, life there is still difficult. There is a lack of adequate housing, basic necessities, and security. The press office of the government in the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, called the cuts catastrophic. They could trigger a famine. According to the World Food Programme, approximately 1.4 million people – i.e., two-thirds of the population of the coastal area – are currently suffering from a severe food crisis. Around 200,000 of them are in acute distress. "We are telling the world that now is not the time to look away," said WFP commissioner-director Carl Skau to the Reuters news agency in the Gaza Strip. A year after the ceasefire agreement, life there is still difficult. There is a lack of adequate housing, basic necessities, and security. The press office of the government in the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, called the cuts catastrophic. They could trigger a famine.