Israel’s cabinet erupts into debate as ministers push for a national inquiry on Oct 7 failures, demanding legal officials also face scrutiny.
Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting convened on Sunday under a charged and uneasy atmosphere, as ministers confronted the sensitive question of establishing a national investigation committee to examine the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre — the darkest day in Israel’s modern history.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir forcefully insisted that any investigative commission must probe every authority involved in pre-attack decision-making, including the state Attorney General, arguing that accountability cannot be selective.
During the deliberations, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs turned to Minister Orit Struck, noting:
“In the end there will be a committee, and we need to think about how to approach it.”
Struck expressed full support for establishing the investigative body, while Minister Gideon Sa’ar stressed that its composition must exclude political figures to preserve public trust.
“We must build a model that earns the confidence of the people,” Sa’ar said.
Ben-Gvir sharpened his demand, warning that legal officials must not be shielded from scrutiny:
“Those being investigated should not become the investigators.”
He reminded the cabinet that, before the massacre, both the Shin Bet chief and Military Intelligence chief asserted that Hamas was deterred — a fatal misjudgment — while the Attorney General opposed tightening detention conditions for terrorists.
“She must also be investigated. No one should be immune,” he declared.
Education Minister Yoav Kish added that any committee established must be constructed in a way that commands broad public legitimacy, recognizing the deep national trauma and public demand for transparency.
As Israel continues to rebuild from the shock of October 7, the looming question remains: Will the inquiry dig deep enough to restore public trust — or will political battles shape its limits?
