In a direct challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday called for the formation of a state commission of inquiry to investigate the October 7 attack led by Hamas and the failures surrounding it.
Despite several opposition lawmakers’ demands, Netanyahu has maintained that an investigation into the government’s culpability cannot proceed while the war in Gaza is ongoing. He has also been non-committal about establishing a state commission, which holds the greatest investigatory powers, suggesting that other formats may be suitable.
Addressing a ceremony for graduating IDF officers, Gallant insisted that the probe should not be delayed and argued for a comprehensive investigation. “It must examine all of us: the decision-makers and professionals, the government, the army, and security services, this government — and the governments over the last decade that led to the events of October 7,” Gallant stated, receiving applause.
Gallant emphasized that the commission should scrutinize himself, the prime minister, the chief of staff, the head of Shin Bet, the army, and all national bodies under the government. He further stated that the commission should investigate the intelligence and operational failures of October 7, the war’s management since then, and how Hamas managed to build its forces over the past decade.
Gallant is not the first to call for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 events. In May, National Unity leader Benny Gantz, then a member of the emergency government and the now-dissolved war cabinet, demanded the same after the IDF revealed that Netanyahu had received multiple warnings from Military Intelligence in 2023 about how Israel’s enemies perceived the political upheaval caused by the government’s judicial overhaul efforts.
Last month, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara urged Netanyahu to stop blocking the launch of a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such a probe is essential to counter actions being taken against Jerusalem at international tribunals. In her letter to Netanyahu, Baharav-Miara contended that a state commission of inquiry was the best defense against genocide accusations Israel faces at the International Court of Justice and the arrest warrants sought by the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor against Netanyahu and Gallant.
Amid mounting pressure, Netanyahu reportedly began exploring Knesset legislation to establish an independent panel headed by a figure of his choice in June. State commissions of inquiry are typically led by a retired Supreme Court Justice, with Esther Hayut being the most obvious choice due to her recent tenure as president of the top court. However, Netanyahu is reportedly opposed to her appointment due to her vocal criticism of his judicial overhaul, leading him to consider legislation to circumvent her selection.
Baharav-Miara warned against this strategy, writing to Netanyahu that “any other existing mechanism [to probe October 7 failures] would not fit the needs and the unique risks that the country is currently facing.”
Gallant’s call came on the same day the IDF released findings from a probe into the battle of Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. The investigation found that the army “failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri” mainly because it had not prepared or trained for such an event. The army had difficulty forming a clear picture of the situation until the afternoon, despite early information from the local security team, and the authorities did not provide Be’eri with an adequate warning of the attack.
Following the probe’s results, Be’eri released a statement demanding the resignation of those responsible for the failures and the formation of a state commission of inquiry for more in-depth answers.
