5,000 Protesters Demand State Commission on October 7 Failures Days Before Vote

Approximately 5,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand an independent state commission of inquiry into the security failures that allowed the October 7, 2023, attacks to succeed. The demonstration took place in Hostages Square, a public plaza in the city center, three days before the country’s first general election since the war in Gaza began.

The rally was organized by the October Council, a group founded by the families of captives taken to Gaza during the initial Hamas attack. The group is pressing for accountability regarding the government’s failure to prevent the invasion. In a post on X ahead of the event, the council described the rally as the culmination of three years of struggle to uncover the truth. They stated their goal was to demand accountability and establish a state commission of inquiry.

Opposition figures joined the crowds in Tel Aviv and other locations across Israel. Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main center-right rival, attended the rally. According to The Times of Israel, protesters greeted Eisenkot with chants asking who the next prime minister would be. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, also participated. Lawyer and citizen Dan Adin described the scene on social media, noting that large numbers of people flowed from Rabin Square to Hostages Square and expressing that the energy of the moment belonged to the opposition.

Polls indicate a tight race for Tuesday’s election. Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc, which has held power since late 2022, is currently running neck and neck with Eisenkot’s bloc. Neither side is projected to secure a majority of seats in the Knesset. The election outcome could influence whether Israel resumes military strikes on Iran, as Eisenkot is viewed as less inclined to renew operations against Tehran compared to his counterpart. Most leading parties, however, remain united in their opposition to an independent Palestinian state.

Before the rally, the October Council warned law enforcement about potential disruptions. The group sent an urgent letter to the Police Commissioner regarding alerts of provocations from entities linked to the governing coalition. The council said it was seeking to hold specific Israeli officials responsible for the October 7 attacks to deliver justice for affected families.

Netanyahu’s coalition government has previously refused to establish an independent commission. Instead, the government proposed a political commission where half the members would be appointed by the ruling bloc and the remainder by opposition legislators. Opposition leaders have indicated they would boycott any commission structured in that manner.