Israel election live: polls open in most consequential vote in country’s history

Israelis queue to vote early at a polling station on election eve. Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a new mandate in Israel’s first election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. Photograph: Martin Grimes/Getty Images

5.44am GMT

There are more than 12,000 polling station opening across the country. In Jerusalem, some voters were lined up before polls even opened at 7am, ready to cast their ballots.