US President Donald Trump's support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, in the upcoming elections has disappointed Palestinians and increased fears that Washington will continue backing Israeli fundamentalist policies.
On Sunday, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform his "full and total support" for Netanyahu ahead of Israel's 27 October parliamentary elections, saying Israel needs his leadership.
He also suggested that without Netanyahu, the United States might have to complete its mission against Iran alone.
The endorsement comes as Israeli political factions compete for power, with opinion polls suggesting a close race and uncertainty over whether either bloc can secure the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
Palestinians in the war-torn coastal enclave who have lost family members and homes view Trump's endorsement as a clear sign that their suffering will continue without meaningful US pressure on Israel to change course.
US backing may not secure Netanyahu's victory
Mustafa Ibrahim, a Gaza-based political analyst, told The New Arab that Trump's support for Netanyahu could reinforce these fears by giving the Israeli prime minister greater freedom to pursue his policies without serious pressure from Washington.
"Trump sees Netanyahu as an ally whose political vision aligns with his own regarding Israel and the future of the region," Ibrahim said, adding that the endorsement reflected the longstanding US-Israeli alliance and the two leaders' shared positions on the Palestinian issue.
Ibrahim argues that Trump's endorsement would not necessarily determine the Israeli election outcome, which would also depend on security and economic conditions, government performance and public criticism of Netanyahu's handling of domestic and regional affairs.
Nevertheless, the US president's backing could strengthen Netanyahu's image as the candidate best positioned to maintain close ties with Washington, he explained.
Even if Netanyahu loses, Ibrahim warned, a change of government would not necessarily bring a fundamental shift in Israeli policy towards Palestinians, given the broad political consensus in Israel against Palestinian sovereignty and continued Israeli control over Palestinian territories.
Continued Israeli aggression
Ahmed Rafiq Awad, a Ramallah-based political analyst, told TNA that several motivations behind Trump's support include pressure from the pro-Israel far right in the United States, his domestic political calculations and shared positions with Netanyahu on Iran.
"Trump could be seeking to consolidate support among American conservatives ahead of the US midterm elections while preserving cooperation with Netanyahu on regional security," he said.
However, he cautioned that the endorsement would not automatically translate into electoral gains, as some Israeli voters might view it as interference in their domestic affairs.
He mentioned that Trump's previous backing of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not prevent Orbán from losing an election.
Awad warned that another Netanyahu government could prolong Israel’s war on Gaza, expand settlements in the West Bank, marginalise the Palestinian Authority and deepen the political and geographical divide between Gaza and the West Bank, while obstructing meaningful negotiations.
He said Palestinians had limited options to counter these policies, stressing the need for steadfastness, a reassessment of ineffective Palestinian strategies and greater reliance on international institutions and allies to hold Israel accountable.
Suffering in Gaza
In Gaza, Trump's support for Netanyahu has deepened Palestinians' disappointment, particularly among families who have lost loved ones and homes and see little prospect of accountability.
Rizq Abu Ali, 45, from Gaza City, lost all his children when the Israeli army bombed his family home in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood in January 2025.
"What can we expect from Trump when he supports Netanyahu, the man responsible for the crimes committed against us?" Abu Ali told TNA.
"There are no words to describe what a father goes through when he loses all his children in a single moment," he said.
Abu Ali described Trump as a partner in Netanyahu's crimes against Palestinians, saying the US president's support had compounded the suffering of families like his.
"Instead of holding those responsible accountable, he is backing the man responsible for our suffering," Abu Ali said, adding that his loss had left him with no hope of seeing his children again.
For 58-year-old Um Abd al-Rahman Abu Riyala, Trump's support for Netanyahu suggests that her family will remain trapped in displacement, without the shelter and healthcare her three children with disabilities urgently need.
Originally from Gaza City's Al-Shati refugee camp, she now lives in a tent with her elderly husband and children after losing her home.
"We are living in a tent after losing our home. Every day, we struggle to meet our basic needs and provide for my children," she told TNA.
Abu Riyala fears that Trump's backing will give Netanyahu greater freedom to continue his policies, prolonging the conditions that have left her family homeless and struggling to survive.
She said continued displacement would make it even harder to care for her children, who need adequate shelter, medical attention and a stable living environment.
"When Trump supports Netanyahu, he is supporting policies that affect our lives directly. We are the ones who pay the price. If this support allows the suffering to continue, my children and I will remain in this tent, without knowing when we can return to a home or get the care they need," she added.
"I am not asking for luxury. I just want a safe place to live with my husband and children, where I can care for them and meet their needs without living in fear every day," she explained.