The Balad party officially announced the withdrawal of Chairman Sami Abu Shehada from running for the Knesset. "The withdrawal of candidacy is not the end of Abu Shehada's political struggle, and it is not the end of Balad's struggle," they stated. "Abu Shehada continues to lead the party, Balad continues its project, and the Joint List continues its struggle to strengthen Arab representation and to contribute to toppling the Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir government." Regarding the High Court hearing, they stated: "The issue has already today gone beyond the question of Sami Abu Shehada's personal candidacy, and has become serious questions concerning the boundaries of political legitimacy granted to Arab citizens."