Israel Vote Puts Gaza Policy and Oct. 7 Families in Focus
WHO:
CNN - Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, is facing Republican challenger Scott Singer, former mayor of Boca Raton, in a House race.
CNN - Cy Stanway, interim rabbi at the synagogue where the candidates held a forum, called the race a “bellwether.”
CNN - Moskowitz said he has AIPAC’s endorsement and has aligned himself with Sen. John Fetterman on Israel.
CNN - Moskowitz said police are permanently stationed outside his home after a man with an antisemitic manifesto was arrested for targeting him for assassination; another man was arrested for threatening his life.
CNN - California Rep. Brad Sherman said Moskowitz’s appointment as ranking member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee is significant to those seeking “a reasonable and balanced policy in the Middle East.”
BBC News - James Landale is the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent.
NBC News World - Families of victims of the October 7, 2023, attacks called on Israelis to vote.
NBC News World - Palestinian health authorities provided the reported death toll from Israel’s assault on Gaza.
WHAT:
CNN - The candidates’ synagogue forum lasted an hour, and its first 28 minutes passed before a question unrelated to Israel and antisemitism.
CNN - The House race had accumulated more than $40 million in spending, with spending expected to exceed $50 million by the end of the campaign.
CNN - Republicans redrew the district in an off-cycle redistricting effort; Trump won the district by 9 points in 2024.
CNN - Moskowitz said Democrats’ demand that candidates oppose Israel or call its actions “a genocide” was making Jews less safe.
CNN - Singer called Netanyahu “a transformative leader”; Moskowitz said Israel could use “a new face of the country.”
BBC News - The article reports on what Israel’s election means for Gaza and the wider world.
NBC News World - Families of victims of the attacks urged Israelis to vote in the national election.
NBC News World - The October 7, 2023, attacks killed more than 1,200 people.
NBC News World - Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed at least 74,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
WHERE:
CNN - The candidates met at a synagogue in a heavily Jewish House district in South Florida.
CNN - The redrawn district runs along the coast roughly from Delray Beach to Miami Beach.
BBC News - James Landale reported from Jerusalem.
NBC News World - Polling stations opened in Israel.
NBC News World - Israel’s assault took place in Gaza.
WHY:
CNN - Moskowitz said he was fighting what he described as a growing Democratic Party litmus test requiring candidates to be anti-Israel.
NBC News World - Families of victims called on Israelis to vote during the national election.
HOW:
CNN - Forum attendees had to submit license-plate information in advance and show photo identification; entry included a body scanner, with armed and unarmed guards inside.
BBC News - James Landale reported as ballots were being cast.
NBC News World - The national election was Israel’s first since the October 7, 2023, attacks.
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 14:12 UTC)
In Israel’s first national election since the October 7, 2023, attacks, families of victims urged Israelis to vote as polling stations opened; the attacks killed more than 1,200 people, and Palestinian health authorities say Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed at least 74,000. In South Florida, Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz is facing Republican Scott Singer in a costly House race that Trump won by 9 points in 2024, and Moskowitz says he is pushing back against demands that Democrats oppose Israel or call its actions genocide. Their synagogue forum focused heavily on Israel and antisemitism, while security was tight after threats against Moskowitz; Singer praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Moskowitz said Israel could use a new face.
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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 11:05 UTC)
As Israelis cast ballots in the country’s first national election since the October 7, 2023, attacks, families of those killed urged voters to take part. The attacks killed more than 1,200 people, while Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed at least 74,000, according to Palestinian health authorities. The election’s implications for Gaza and the wider world are being closely watched.