Amnesty UK Condemns Israeli Elections as 'Apartheid at the Ballot Box'

Israel's parliamentary elections took place on Tuesday, with over 7.3 million people eligible to vote, Anadolu Agency reported Tuesday.

The elections were marked by intense competition between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition and the opposition bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Amnesty International UK's crisis response manager, Kristyan Benedict, said the elections exemplify "apartheid at the ballot box," as millions of Palestinians under Israeli occupation are denied the right to vote.

Benedict called on the UK government to end all arms transfers to Israel, sanction Israeli officials implicated in international crimes, and demand humanitarian access and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

He also urged the UK to support international judicial institutions, end its involvement in Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, and cut ties to Israel's unlawful occupation and system of apartheid.

The voting process began at 7 am local time and closed at 10 pm, according to Israel's Central Elections Committee.

In related developments, Palestinians in Hebron were locked down in their city, with thousands forced from their homes, and over 1,500 people killed in Gaza since a ceasefire began in October 2025.

Benedict emphasized that no election result will change the UK government's responsibilities, stating, "No election result will change what the UK government must do."

The UK government must take action regardless of the election outcome, he added.