October 7 victims decry Likud plot to block state probe with political inquiry

Families of victims of the Hamas October 7 attack, political leaders, and civilian organizations objected Thursday to a bill that would replace a state probe of October 7 with a political probe.

The objections were prompted by a Channel 13 report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to advance legislation that would create a probe led by citizens selected by the political echelon and prevent any other probe of October 7 from forming.

The Prime Minister’s Office refused to comment on The Jerusalem Post’s request for confirmation of the report.

A state probe, or national committee of inquiry, is the most powerful probe in the country’s legal system and the only type of probe that operates completely independently of the political echelon. Its members are appointed by the chief justice, and it has the power to subpoena witnesses and make personal recommendations regarding individuals.

There has been a public and political push for the foundation of such a probe, as the government has indicated that it does not intend to allow for one.

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has said that a state probe is the only appropriate way to investigate the events of October 7.

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has also called for a state probe. “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 July.

Blocking any other probe

The political probe that the government intends to advance would be made up of six people selected by the Knesset, Ynet, which published what they say is the text of the bill, reported

Probe members, some of whom would need to be retired or reserves security officials and some of whom would need to be former public officials, would be approved by a majority of 80 Knesset members, and if such a majority cannot be reached, the opposition and coalition would each chose three members of the probe.

Notably, the legislation of the political probe would block any other past, present, and future probes into the events leading to the October 7 massacre and of the day itself.

The political probe would begin within 30 days after the government announces the end of the Israel-Hamas War or after a year has passed since the legislation is passed, Ynet reported.

Four observers, two representatives of bereaved families, and two representatives of hostage families would take part in the probe but have no right to speak or vote.

“It will not happen,” said opposition head Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on X/Twitter. “We will only vote for a national committee of inquiry.”

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman also objected to the formation of a political probe, saying the attempt to prevent a state probe “is more than an admission of guilt.

“Netanyahu knows he is the primary person responsible for the October 7 failure. He is to blame, and he must take responsibility,” Liberman added.

Democrats MK Naama Lazimi also opposed blocking a state probe.

“The prime minister is advancing legislation to prohibit the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the disaster and failure. There is no greater admission of guilt than this,” she said.

“And to anyone justifying this disgrace – defending him and his actions, is it really worth it? Won’t there come a moment when you say enough?” she added.

The October Council, a group of families who lost loved ones in the October 7 attack, also came out against the formation of the political probe.

“We will stand as a steadfast wall against any attempt to establish an investigative committee that is not a state commission, as defined by law,” the group said.

“Only a state commission can uncover the truth and prevent the next October 7,” it said.

Their Voice, a forum of families of IDF observers killed on October 7, also responded to reports of the political probe.

“We will not agree to attempts at a cover-up. We will not agree to a political investigation. We lost our daughters, our brave and dedicated observers, and the very least they and we deserve are answers. This is the state’s duty!

“We still have not received the radio recordings we requested. Our daughters paid with their lives, and their five friends – Karina [Ariev], Naama [Levy], Daniella [Gilboa], Liri [Albag], and Agam [Berger] – are still held captive by Hamas.

“Instead of everyone focusing on giving us answers, everyone is busy hiding the truth.”

The forum also stressed that a year has gone by and they have not been given answers about what happened to their daughters on October 7.

The unofficial civilian probe of the events of October 7, founded in July by civilians and bereaved families and aiming to probe the attack while also pressuring the government to form a state probe, also objected to the formation of a political probe.

That the same “failed elected officials,” which probe findings indicate are behind some of the mistakes that led to October 7, are planning to form a political probe is “inconceivable,” the civilian probe said.

This amounts to “those investigated appointing their investigators.”

“We call on the elected officials to retract their decision to form a political investigative committee.”

The civilian probe also said that it would put out an interim report Tuesday, which would include findings from the interviews of around 120 people who testified before the civilian probe, including senior IDF and security officials and local officials.

The civilian probe committee, signed on the interim report, includes former Israel Police commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki, Judge Varda Alshech, and reserves Maj.-Gen. Eyal Ben-Reuven.

The committee called on dozens of political and security officials to testify before the probe, offering them a chance to testify before the report is published Tuesday.

Among those asked to testify were Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, and leaders of the nation’s security agencies, including Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar. Former prime ministers Lapid and Naftali Bennett, as well as Transportation Minister Miri Regev, have also been asked to respond.

Eliav Breuer, Eyal Green, and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.