Benny Gantz withdraws from Israel's Oct. 27 election, eight days before the vote

As of 10:39 a.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel's Blue and White party and a former defense minister, said Monday, Oct. 19, that he would not run in the country's Oct. 27 election, eight days before the vote, according to The Times of Israel and Ynet.

"I will not run in the upcoming election," Gantz said in a statement, according to Ynetnews, Ynet's English-language site. "I will continue fighting for unity. This is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all the challenges it faces at home and abroad."

Gantz will deliver a statement to the press Monday evening Israel time, The Times of Israel reported. Ynet reported that the news conference was scheduled for 8 p.m. Israel time (1 p.m. ET) and that Gantz would answer reporters' questions.

Ballot status

Blue and White will still appear on the ballot on election day, but any votes cast for the party will be wasted, The Times of Israel reported. Ynet reported that for Blue and White ballots not to be available in the soldiers' vote, which opens Tuesday, all 39 candidates on the party's list must formally withdraw their candidacies on Monday.

Surveys published by major Israeli news outlets had consistently placed Blue and White below the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Ynetnews reported. i24NEWS reported that polls had put the party at less than 1 percent.

Last month, Gantz told The Times of Israel that he would halt his campaign if polls taken in the last week of the race showed Blue and White failing to enter the Knesset, the outlet reported. Ynetnews reported that a week ago, at a conference organized by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Gantz had said he would stay in the race "all the way."

Blue and White said Gantz would "continue to focus his efforts on bringing about a unity government that will work in the best interests of the State of Israel," The Jerusalem Post reported.

Reaction

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and a former political partner of Gantz, thanked him. "I thank my friend, Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz, for his correct and responsible decision to withdraw from the most consequential elections since the establishment of the state," Eisenkot said, according to Ynetnews.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also welcomed the move. "Gantz made a responsible and correct decision," Golan said, according to Ynetnews. "At a decisive moment for Israel's future, our shared responsibility is to ensure victory for the bloc seeking change." i24NEWS reported that Golan made his comments in a post on X.

Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election on Sunday, GROKsiNEWS.com reported.

The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP had not reported Gantz's withdrawal as of 10:39 a.m. ET, and Gantz had not posted about it on his X account as of that time.