.
the bill establishing a political inquiry committee into the events of October 7 was approved in its first reading, noting that 59 out of 120 Knesset members voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition, while the Israeli opposition boycotted the vote.
During the voting process, opposition leader Yair Lapid said via the "X" platform: "The opposition is now boycotting the vote on the bill for the political inquiry committee that the government presented to the Knesset plenum," adding: "We will not be part of a charade whose sole purpose is to cover up the greatest catastrophe that has befallen the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and to prevent an investigation into it," according to his claim.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas surprised Israel with an attack on its military bases and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, killing and capturing hundreds of settlers and soldiers, in response to Tel Aviv's violations against Palestinian holy sites and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
This was followed by a genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation army against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of more than 73,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 173,000, in addition to widespread destruction affecting 90% of the civilian infrastructure.
Israeli security, political and military officials considered the handling of the October 7 attack to be an intelligence, security and military failure, with many of them resigning and declaring that they bore some responsibility.
Channel 12 reported that "the law is expected to lead to the formation of a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, whose members will be appointed by politicians," adding: "According to the bill, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is supposed to appoint half of the commission members, while the opposition appoints the other half, but the opposition is boycotting the bill."
She added: "The committee will be able to carry out its work even if its formation is limited to members appointed by Netanyahu."
In response, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, tweeted via X: "The political inquiry committee is a cover-up, and aims to obstruct and thwart the investigation into the truth."
Lieberman added: "In the next government that we will form, the first decision will be to establish an official commission of inquiry."
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yeshar" party, wrote on the same platform: "He who knows the truth and fears it is the one who establishes a political commission of inquiry loyal to him, whose goal is to cover up and engineer awareness."
Eisenkot addressed Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying: "You are afraid of the truth, that goes without saying. Reveal the minutes (the official protocols of what happened before and during the events), and the truth to the public."
Yair Golan, leader of the "Democrats" party, wrote in a tweet via "X": "Let it be clear: the families of October 7 will get what they deserve, which is the truth being revealed."
Golan continued: "No cover-up committee formed by a failed and corrupt government will be able to erase the failure, and no vote in the Knesset will save those responsible from taking responsibility."
He added that "in the next government we will establish an official commission of inquiry and Netanyahu will be the first to be held fully accountable."
For the bill to become effective, it requires three readings and a vote on it.
Since those events, the opposition and a broad segment of the Israeli public have been demanding the formation of an official commission of inquiry appointed by the Supreme Court (the highest judicial authority), which Netanyahu has strongly rejected, calling instead for the formation of a "political" commission with limited powers.
