Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's security forces have lost 1,318 members, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The toll includes 1,153 IDF personnel, 116 police officers, and 1,029 civilians, 88 of them foreign nationals.
Military spending climbed from 4.3% of GDP in 2022 to 8.5% in 2024, doubling the defense burden, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported. The jump reflects intensified operations in Gaza and heightened tensions with Iran.
Grocery prices surged 19.6% in neighbourhood stores from Sept. 2022 to Aug. 2026, a rate five times faster than the previous four years, Tel Aviv University researchers found using Pricez data. Online retailers saw a 19% rise, while discount chains climbed 14.5%.
For Shlomo Levy, whose brother was killed in Gaza, the high turnout feels like a vote of gratitude for the new security policies. Levy, a 32‑year‑old Tel Aviv resident, told reporters that the election was a “focal point for hope” amid war.
The parliament will convene on May 12 to elect a new prime minister and begin coalition talks, expected to conclude by June 15. The coalition will face the immediate task of redefining defense budgets and easing the cost of living for ordinary Israelis.