Israeli Arab leader quits election under pressure from court over October 7 remarks

AI Summary

Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew from Israel's election after the Supreme Court signaled it was likely to disqualify him over comments describing the October 7 Hamas-led attacks as an important historical event. He denies endorsing the attack, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the taking of 251 hostages; Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed 74,000 Palestinians, according to the report.

By Pesha Magid JERUSALEM, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The head of a left-wing Arab party dropped out of Israel's election after the Supreme Court indicated judges were likely to disqualify him for an article that described the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks as an "important historical event". Sami Abu Shehadeh has denied that his remarks amounted to endorsing the attack by fighters who killed 1,200 people and brought 251 hostages to Gaza in the deadliest day in Israeli history. The attack precipitated the Israeli assault on Gaza in which 74,000 Palestinians were killed.