At October Council Conference, Herzog Demands Urgent Inquiry Into October 7 Attacks

President Isaac Herzog on Sunday called for the urgent establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas massacre, labeling it a “national disaster” that was “not inevitable” and “could and should have been prevented.”

Herzog made the remarks during the “Two Years Without Answers” conference in Tel Aviv, organized by the October Council, a forum of bereaved families and relatives of hostages. The conference gathered high-profile speakers, including former Israel Police commissioner Roni Alsheikh and former justice ministers Dan Meridor and Meir Sheetrit.

“The October 7 massacre is a national disaster in every sense,” Herzog said. “One of the goals of establishing a Jewish state was to defend ourselves to prevent, warn, and repel every enemy.”

He emphasized that a state inquiry was “not just a professional tool but an opportunity for correction, healing, and the beginning of recovery,” warning that failure to launch such a commission would be a “grave mistake.”

The demand for an inquiry has intensified amid accusations that senior political figures are obstructing accountability. Former Beit She’an Mayor Rafi Ben Shitrit, who lost his son in the attack, challenged members of the ruling Likud party for remaining silent in the face of what he called a “policy of denial and concealment.”

Alsheikh noted that Shin Bet head Ronen Bar was “among the first to admit failure,” while warning of catastrophic damage to Israel’s entire security apparatus. Meridor called Netanyahu’s government “the most failed in Israel’s history” and likened the current moment to the aftermath of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, when then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin resigned.

Addressing Netanyahu directly, Meir Sheetrit asked, “What are you afraid of?” urging him to cooperate with any investigation if he has “nothing to hide,” amid allegations tied to the “Qatargate” funding scandal.

The conference reflected deep public frustration over the lack of answers nearly two years after the attacks and growing pressure on the government to establish an independent investigation. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.