The Otzma Yehudit party has filed a petition to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, claiming he "published praise for terrorists after the massacre, supported convicted terrorists, justified the rioters of Operation Guardian of the Walls and worked to cancel Israel's Jewish character." According to the party, "On October 8, 2023, he called the Hamas attack 'an important historical event from a military, political and strategic perspective,' and wrote: 'If small and besieged Gaza succeeded in doing this, others can do it more efficiently and simply.'" It was further claimed that he called Gaza's endurance a "legendary achievement" and Hamas terrorists "resistance fighters."