Bereaved family members joined the Knesset’s 40-signature debate attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, on establishing a state commission of inquiry into the government's handling of the October 7 massacre in 2023.
Netanyahu sat in the plenum seating area as opposition MKs spoke on an urgent need for a state commission of inquiry, while families in the plenum viewing section above could be heard clapping and holding pictures up of their lost loved ones.
Ahead of the plenum session, members of The October Council, which is made up of hundreds of families affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks, spoke on the urgency of a state commission of inquiry.
“We will look the prime minister in the eyes and demand a state commission of inquiry,” said Rafi Ben Shitrit, whose son, St.-Sgt. Alroy fell in battle on October 7.
MK Ron Katz (Yesh Atid) slammed Netanyahu during the opening remarks, “Why are you doing everything to run away from the truth?”
“For once, take responsibility. If you keep running away, history will remember," he said.
Merav Ben Ari (Yesh Atid) told Netanyahu, “Look into the eyes of the people who came here.”
"I blame you, Netanyahu," Naama Lazimi (The Democrats) told the plenum. "You forgot what it is to be Jewish."
"You won't defeat the bereaved families," she said.
The Knesset’s debate is based on a law that if 40 MKs sign a request, it is permitted to arrange a debate on a certain issue and the prime minister is required to attend.
The opposition Yesh Atid Party initiated the 40-signature debate, titled "Establishing a State Commission of Inquiry into the Failures of October 7."
A state commission of inquiry is the most powerful probe in the legal system and the only type that operates independently of the political echelon. Its members are appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and it has the power to subpoena witnesses and make personal recommendations regarding individuals.
The other types of probes are government- and Knesset-appointed inquiry committees.
An inquiry into the events surrounding October 7 has repeatedly been blocked by Israel’s political echelon despite polls showing huge public support for this type of investigation, which has been pushed by victims of the attacks and their families.
At the end of the debate, the plenum is expected to vote on its position regarding the matter.
In March, a similar plenum session took place at the Knesset, which broke out into chaos as a confrontation between bereaved families and officers developed into a brawl at the bottom of a staircase leading to the plenum’s visitors’ section. At least two fell in the incident.
October Council demands respect for bereaved families
The October Council called for the bereaved families to be treated with respect following the past incident, in a letter penned to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
Dave, father of Ilay, who fell in battle in Gaza, said at the earlier press conference that Netanyahu does not want a state commission of inquiry, and one will not occur while he is still prime minister.
"Don't let any spin confuse you, he [Netanyahu] wants to get to the next elections without an investigation," he said.
"The intention is clear: to drown us in the next argument over identity instead of facing the real questions about what happened."
Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.