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Supporters cheer as they watch the results of exit polls for Israel's general election at a campaign event held by the Yashar party in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 27 (local time). / AFP-Yonhap

Exit polls for Israel's general election showed the opposition bloc holding a narrow lead in the projected number of seats, although the ruling party was expected to win the most seats of any individual party. However, neither bloc appeared likely to secure the 61 seats needed for a majority to form a government on its own.

According to The Times of Israel (TOI), exit polls released separately by three local broadcasters immediately after voting ended in Israel's general election on Oct. 27 (local time) all showed the opposition bloc holding a slight lead in the number of seats.

An exit poll by public broadcaster Kan 11 projected that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party would win 25 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament, while the pro-Netanyahu bloc would secure 50 seats. The Yashar party, led by former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to win 21 seats, while the opposition bloc was expected to secure 53 seats.

Channel 12's exit poll projected 24 seats for Likud, 50 for the pro-Netanyahu bloc, 22 for Yashar and 52 for the opposition bloc.

Another broadcaster, Channel 13, projected 25 seats for Likud, 50 for the pro-Netanyahu bloc, 23 for Yashar and 53 for the opposition bloc.

This general election is the first nationwide election held since the Gaza war broke out following a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Voter turnout in the election, which will determine whether Netanyahu remains in power, reached 74.3% as of 8 p.m., two hours before polls closed. This marked a sharp increase from the 66.3% recorded at the same time during the previous general election in 2022.

Since hourly turnout tracking began in 1973, the highest turnout recorded at that time of day was 75.6% in 1988.

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min