Israeli politicians call for state commission of inquiry following release of Oct. 7 probe

Following the first round of findings for the October 7 IDF probe that was released on Thursday, in which the military claimed to have failed on multiple dimensions during the Hamas attacks, some Israeli politicians have responded by calling for a state commission of inquiry.

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman responded to the probe’s results, posting on X that Israel can no longer escape a state commission of inquiry. According to him, the investigation must begin with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“The initial investigation presented this evening proves that there is no escape from the appointment of a state investigative committee led by a judge,” he wrote.

Instead of avoiding accountability and “blaming soldiers who risked their lives protecting the residents [of Kibbutz Be’eri] from bloodthirsty terrorists, the investigation must begin with the prime minister and the defense minister, who are primarily responsible for the most terrible failure in the country’s history,” Liberman wrote.

“All the heads of the IDF should also bear responsibility, especially those who stated on the eve of the war that Hamas is deterred and has no interest in escalation,” he added.

Similarly, opposition Leader Yair Lapid also called for a state commission of inquiry following the probe results and Gallant’s Thursday statements that Israel needs a national investigation to clarify the facts of the October 7 IDF probe.

“Gallant’s statement and the Be’eri investigation prove even more strongly the need for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. The government cannot continue to evade its responsibility towards the citizens of Israel, the families of the fallen, and the families of the hostages,” Lapid wrote on X.

Calling to investigate all those involved in October 7 

“This commission of inquiry should be objective; it should check all of us – the government, the army, and the security agencies. It needs to check me along with the prime minister and chief of staff,” Gallant said in his Thursday speech at the IDF officers’ course graduation ceremony.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also responded to the first round of findings of the October 7 IDF probe on Thursday afternoon.

“The government of Israel and the high command of the IDF have caused a huge and unimaginable failure in allowing October 7 to happen,” he said.

לקראת פרסום תחקיר קרב בארי**בימים הראשונים שאחרי ה7/10 ירדתי לפגוש את חברי כיתות הכוננות של מספר יישובים וקיבוצים וערים וקיימנו בעצם את התחקיר הראשון של הארועים.לעתים זו היתה הפעם הראשונה שהם ישבו אחד עם השני להבין מה קרה. הכל היה טרי מאד. כל אחד סיפר את הסיפור האישי מהזווית… pic.twitter.com/XDVLE2ujNm

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftaliBennett) July 11, 2024

Labor Party and united Labor-Meretz bloc Democratic Party head Yair Golan also called for a state commission of inquiry.

“Those who don’t want a commission of inquiry know why,” he posted. “The IDF’s investigation into the failure in Be’eri is a drop in the ocean compared to the investigation that should be conducted.”

He further explained that the victims and survivors of October 7 deserve a full state commission of inquiry and not one that is conducted “over text message.”

“The citizens need this to know that the state is doing everything not to abandon them once again,” he concluded.