The October Council, made up of hundreds of families affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks, will attend the debate and call for a state commission of inquiry in a press conference beforehand.
Bereaved family members will join the Knesset’s 40-signature debate attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, on establishing a state commission of inquiry into the government’s handling of the October 7 massacre in 2023.
The October Council, made up of hundreds of families affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks, will attend the debate and call for a state commission of inquiry in a press conference beforehand.
“It is inconceivable that more than two years have passed since the horrific massacre, and yet no state commission of inquiry has been established,” The October Council stated ahead of the discussion.
The Knesset’s debate is based on a law that if 40 MKs sign a request, it is permitted to arrange a debate on a certain issue that requires the prime minister’s attendance.
The opposition Yesh Atid Party initiated the 40-signature debate, titled “Establishing a State Commission of Inquiry into the Failures of October 7.”
October Council founding member Rafi Ben Shitrit addresses the council’s conference in Tel Aviv, September 7, 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
In March, a similar plenum session took place at the Knesset, which broke out into chaos as a confrontation between bereaved families and officers developed into a brawl at the bottom of a staircase leading to the plenum’s visitors’ section. At least two fell in the incident.
October Council demands respect for bereaved families
On Sunday, the October Council called for the bereaved families to be treated with respect following the past incident, in a letter penned to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
A state commission of inquiry is the most powerful probe in the legal system and the only type that operates independently of the political echelon. Its members are appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and it has the power to subpoena witnesses and make personal recommendations regarding individuals.
The other types of probes are government- and Knesset-appointed inquiry committees.
An inquiry into the events surrounding October 7 has repeatedly been blocked by Israel’s political echelon despite polls showing huge public support for this type of investigation, which has been pushed by victims of the attacks and their families.
At the end of the debate, the plenum is expected to vote on its position regarding the matter.
The coalition’s Religious Zionist Party (RZP), led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, is not expected to vote with the rest of the coalition.
RZP announced last week that it is boycotting coalition votes until a bill spearheaded by Smotrich to provide reservists with tax credits is passed.
Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.