Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv Demanding State Inquiry Into October 7 Failures Ahead of Election

Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to demand the establishment of an independent state commission of inquiry into the security and intelligence failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, in a major demonstration held just three days before Israel’s general election.

The rally took place at Hostages Square and was organized by the October Council, an umbrella group representing bereaved families, relatives of hostages and survivors of the October 7 attack.

The demonstration brought together families seeking answers about how Hamas managed to carry out the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, as well as prominent opposition figures challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Among those attending were Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party; Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party; and Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beytenu. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett was also reported to be present.

Bereaved Families Demand Accountability

The rally was centered on demands for a full investigation into the failures that allowed the October 7 attack to unfold, including the decisions made by political leaders, military commanders and intelligence officials before and during the assault.

Families of victims argued that an independent investigation is essential not only to establish responsibility but also to ensure that the failures are properly examined and that lessons are implemented to prevent another national catastrophe.

Elhanan Danino, whose son Ori was abducted from the Nova music festival and murdered in Hamas captivity, called on the government to establish a state commission of inquiry.

A commission, he said, would not bring the victims back, but investigating the failures was an obligation to future generations and to the soldiers continuing to defend the country.

Former hostage Danielle Aloni, who was abducted to Gaza with her daughter and held captive for 49 days, also called for an independent investigation, saying the absence of such a process left fundamental questions about the country’s ability to prevent another disaster unanswered.

The presence of bereaved families, survivors and relatives of former hostages gave the demonstration a distinctly personal dimension, with participants demanding answers rather than allowing the events of October 7 to recede from the public agenda.

Political Pressure Mounts on Netanyahu

The demonstration added to mounting political pressure on Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s election, which is widely viewed as a referendum on his leadership and his government’s handling of national security.

Netanyahu has rejected calls for a conventional state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures. His government has instead proposed a politically constituted commission in which the government and opposition would share responsibility for appointments.

Opposition leaders have argued that such an arrangement would not provide the necessary independence, particularly when the conduct of the government itself is among the issues requiring investigation.

The dispute centers on who should determine the commission’s composition, the scope of its investigation and its authority to examine decisions made at the highest levels of government.

Supporters of a state commission argue that the inquiry must be sufficiently independent to investigate all relevant institutions and officeholders without political interference.

Opposition Leaders Join the Protest

The participation of leading opposition figures underscored the political significance of the demonstration just days before the vote.

Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and a leading challenger to Netanyahu, received an enthusiastic reception from parts of the crowd.

The rally offered opposition leaders an opportunity to align themselves with the families’ demand for accountability while highlighting the unresolved political consequences of the October 7 attack.

The presence of politicians from different opposition parties also reflected the breadth of support for an independent investigation, although the participants do not necessarily share the same positions on every issue facing Israel.

The demonstration was organized primarily around the demand for a state commission of inquiry, rather than a single party’s election campaign.

Organizers Warn of Possible Disruptions

Ahead of the rally, the October Council said it had alerted Police Commissioner Danny Levy to information it had received about possible attempts by individuals allegedly connected to coalition parties to disrupt the demonstration.

The organizers asked police to increase preparations and prevent provocations that could undermine the event.

The allegations were not independently verified. The organizers emphasized that the rally was intended to focus on the families’ demand for truth, accountability and an independent investigation.

A Defining Issue Before Election Day

The dispute over an inquiry into October 7 has become one of the central questions in Israel’s debate over political responsibility and public trust.

For the families of victims and survivors, the demand for an independent commission is a matter of establishing the truth and ensuring that the failures leading to the attack are fully examined.

For Netanyahu, the question remains politically sensitive because an investigation could scrutinize decisions made by his government before and during the attack.

With Israelis scheduled to vote on October 27, Saturday’s demonstration highlighted the continuing public demand for accountability nearly three years after the Hamas assault.

Whether a new government will establish an independent state commission of inquiry remains uncertain. The demonstration made clear, however, that for many families and supporters, the demand for a full investigation remains unresolved.