Netanyahu says Iran and its proxies could attack to disrupt Israel's election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were intelligence signs that Iran and its proxies could carry out attacks to disrupt Israel's elections. He made the statement in a video released by his office on Sunday, 25 October 2026.

"We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections," SCMP quoted him as saying.

The elections are scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026, according to SCMP and The Hindu. The reports do not describe the intelligence Netanyahu cited.

Netanyahu also warned Iran against any hostile acts, according to both outlets. "Don't test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows," The Hindu quoted him as saying. He said the military was ready for both defensive and offensive operations, The Hindu reported.

Background

Israel launched a war against Iran in February alongside the United States, according to SCMP and The Hindu. The two outlets say Netanyahu has campaigned heavily on his security credentials. The Hindu identifies Gadi Eisenkot as his challenger.

According to The Hindu, Netanyahu earlier on 25 October posted an AI-generated image of a mushroom cloud engulfing Tel Aviv. It appeared alongside text attributed to a right-wing political commentator. The commentator called Iran an existential threat and described other election issues as trivial in comparison.

The Hindu also reported that, earlier in the week, Netanyahu said he had sent a directive to Israel's security forces to topple Iran's clerical state. In another video, he spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump in front of a fighter jet. He said they would "finish the job" together, The Hindu reported.

What is disputed

According to SCMP, Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed sources, a confrontation between Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir. The reported dispute concerned an unspecified new directive in the war with Iran. A France 24 video report is headlined "Report: IDF chief pushes back on Netanyahu's order". No text accompanies it, so its sourcing cannot be assessed.

Netanyahu denied that the confrontation took place, according to SCMP. The reports do not include the wording of his denial. They do not describe the content of the directive. They include no response from Zamir or the military.

What each side says

• Netanyahu: Iran and its proxies could attack to disrupt the vote, and Iran would face "disproportionate blows" if it acted. He denied the Channel 12 report.
• Channel 12 (unnamed sources, via SCMP): Netanyahu and Zamir clashed over a new war directive.
• Israeli opposition: According to SCMP's summary, opposition figures accuse Netanyahu of stoking escalation in order to postpone the ballot. The reports do not name them or include their statements.
• Iran and its allies: The reports do not include any response.

Analysis

The warning comes two days before a vote in which security is central to Netanyahu's campaign, according to the reports reviewed by Vocemundi. Several scenarios remain open. The election could proceed as scheduled without incident. Security events could shape the final days of campaigning. The opposition's accusation about a possible postponement could gain or lose traction depending on what happens. The reported dispute with the army chief remains unresolved. Neither the directive's content nor any military response is described. Most coverage traces back to a single origin, so further independent reporting would help clarify the claims.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.