Israel's elections committee said on Wednesday that Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc leads after 50% of votes got counted. Exit polls showed neither side secured the 61 seats needed for a majority. As the country remains divided, rival Gadi Eisenkot said, "The people decided in favor of change" during his speech.

Israel's elections committee said on Wednesday that the bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was leading after 50% of the votes had been counted.

Exit polls released by major Israeli TV stations right after polls closed on Tuesday night and revised overnight indicated that neither Netanyahu's political bloc nor that of his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the parliament, known as the Knesset.

Israelis vote for parties, which then form alliances to create a majority coalition, and no single party has ever won a majority.

But the inconclusive result comes as the country remains deeply divided over Netanyahu's leadership and scarred by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the wars that have since shaken the Middle East.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in this week's elections helped him "a lot".

"I think when the endorsement went out, it had helped him a lot," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, referring to Netanyahu.

Here is the latest:

Official vote counts are being tallied overnight

The counts from Israel's Central Elections Committee kept coming in early Wednesday morning. The results are still partial as more voting stations are counted.

The count does not indicate how many seats each party will win in the parliament.

.Netanyahu and rival each claim mandate after tight Israel election.

Netanyahu slams Arab parties and touts the Iran war in election night speech

In a message aimed at his rivals, he said no government should be formed that relies on Arab parties.

Arab-led parties had a strong showing in Tuesday's election and could be kingmakers if, as exit polls indicate, Netanyahu's bloc and his opponents are tied and both unable to form governing coalitions.

Both main blocs cheer supporters after inconclusive results

In a sign of the uncertainty ahead, the mood at both Eisenkot and Netanyahu's headquarters was celebratory. In a speech early Wednesday in Tel Aviv that focused on national unity, Eisenkot pledged to form a government and promised "a new era -- an era of hope" for Israelis.

"Today, Israel went out to a referendum over the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years," Eisenkot said to cheers from supporters. "The people decided in favor of change."