US President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that his endorsement helped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perform better than expected in Israel's parliamentary election, as preliminary results showed his bloc leading but falling short of a governing majority, with less than half of ballot boxes counted.

With 48% of ballot boxes counted as of early Wednesday, Netanyahu's bloc was projected to secure 55 seats, six short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to win 50 seats.

"I think when the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot," Trump told reporters after returning from campaign rallies in Texas.

"I actually heard he did pretty well. It might be winning or tied. A tie is sort of considered a win in that case."

Trump said he had not yet spoken with Netanyahu.

Trump said on Sunday that he gave Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement," amid a politically sensitive election campaign for the Israeli premier, with his leadership scrutinized over security, the war in Gaza and his handling of Israel’s international standing.

Israel has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 in Gaza since October 2023, most of them women and children, while around 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to Palestinian authorities.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice is also hearing a case brought by South Africa and joined by several countries that accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. (AA)