Bereaved Families Demand October 7 Inquiry as Netanyahu Faces Grueling Cross-Examination

Tel Aviv, Israel – December 10, 2025  Bereaved families of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre stormed the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday, amplifying their urgent call for an independent state commission of inquiry into the intelligence and security failures that enabled the deadliest attack in Israel's history. The outburst unfolded mere feet from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was enduring a tense day of cross-examination in his long-running corruption trial, highlighting the deepening fissures in a nation still reeling from the trauma of that fateful Sabbath.

The courtroom erupted shortly after noon as a group of grieving parents, led by Eyal Eshel—whose daughter Roni was among the 1,200 Israelis slaughtered at the Nahal Oz military outpost—interrupted proceedings to confront the prime minister directly. "Netanyahu, look us in the eyes," Eshel pleaded, his voice cracking with raw emotion. "You're afraid of the truth, afraid of an inquiry. I lost my Roni. What did you lose on October 7?" Netanyahu, seated at the witness stand and flanked by his legal team, averted his gaze and offered no reply, prompting security to escort the families from the room amid muffled sobs and cries of "Justice for the fallen!"

The intrusion was no isolated outburst. Anat Ben Ami, mother of Shani, a vibrant 22-year-old murdered at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, was among those briefly detained after court guards confiscated a framed photo of her daughter. "You owe us answers. Stop running from the truth. I deserve to know what happened to my Shani," Ben Ami shouted, her words echoing through the marble halls as the hearing paused. Addressing the judges before being removed, Eshel added, "We are bereaved parents; we don't have the emotional strength for provocation. But we can't stay silent while the failures that killed our children go unexamined."

This latest escalation comes amid mounting frustration from the October Council, a coalition representing over 1,500 bereaved families, survivors, and relatives of hostages still held in Gaza. For more than two years, the group has spearheaded a relentless campaign for a state-led probe—empowered by Israeli law to summon witnesses, seize documents, and issue binding recommendations—insisting it is the only mechanism capable of delivering impartial accountability. "The truth can prevent a future disaster and let the entire country sleep at night," the council declared in a September emergency conference, accusing Netanyahu's government of "obstructing justice" through repeated delays and half-measures.

The timing could not have been more pointed. Netanyahu's trial, which resumed in earnest last month after wartime adjournments, centers on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three unrelated corruption cases. On Wednesday, prosecutors grilled the prime minister for hours over alleged gifts from wealthy benefactors and media influence peddling, with Netanyahu dismissing the proceedings as a "witch hunt" orchestrated by a biased judiciary. Yet, as cross-examination dragged into the afternoon, the bereaved families' protest injected the October 7 catastrophe—long a shadow over his leadership—directly into the fray.

Netanyahu has steadfastly resisted a state commission, arguing it would be "rigged" by political adversaries and that a full investigation must await the war's end. In recent Knesset debates, he claimed "half the nation" opposes such a panel, a assertion swiftly rebutted by polls showing overwhelming public support—up to 70% in some surveys—for an independent inquiry. Critics, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, have likened the government's foot-dragging to historical evasions, with Lapid vowing last month that a future administration would launch "a true state commission that investigates everyone, including the prime minister."

The prime minister's coalition, meanwhile, has floated alternatives, including a government-appointed panel announced in November, which bereaved families and watchdogs like the Movement for Quality Government in Israel decried as a "transparent attempt to evade responsibility." Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, in testimony earlier this week, broke ranks to endorse a state inquiry as "the only way" to probe the Hamas assault's prelude, citing ignored warnings and systemic lapses that left border communities exposed.

Wednesday's court drama underscores a broader national schism. Protests against Netanyahu's government have surged in recent weeks, with thousands rallying in Haifa and Tel Aviv last weekend to demand both hostage releases and accountability for October 7. As one October Council signatory, a survivor of the Re'im massacre, told reporters outside the courthouse: "We buried our loved ones while leaders pointed fingers. No more delays—Netanyahu must face the inquiry, just as he faces these charges today."

17GEN4.com