Gaza War Ends — Israel’s Battle for Accountability Begins as Families Demand a State Inquiry

Gaza war over, but the fight for accountability is only starting

“Do you really think, Mr. Netanyahu, that you can rename wars, hand out medals, tell tales of your heroism — and still avoid investigating the greatest national failure in Israel’s history?” Eyal Eshel shouted, his voice breaking with anger, as he addressed thousands in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. He read aloud the cabinet decision to rename the Gaza conflict from “Operation Swords of Iron” to the “War of Redemption,” then tore the paper into pieces.

Eshel, whose daughter Roni was serving as an Israel Defense Forces observer at Nahal Oz on October 7 and was killed that day, told the crowd: “Forget it. We, the bereaved families, the residents of the Gaza envelope, the citizens of Israel — we will not let you. Until you investigate, there will be no revival. My Roni will not return, but the truth still can.”

What’s at stake

More than two years after what has been described as the deadliest day in Israel’s history, the government has still not established a state commission of inquiry to examine the intelligence and security failures that allowed Hamas militants to kill more than 1,200 Israelis and abduct over 250 people on October 7. Instead, the cabinet announced it would form an "independent" commission through a ministerial process that supporters say will have investigative powers and a membership aimed at broad public consensus. Critics — including bereaved families and survivors — call the move a delay tactic and a way to retain political control over the investigation.

Why families want a state commission

The October Council, a coalition of bereaved families and survivors, has led public pressure for a full state commission of inquiry. Under Israeli law, a state commission is the most powerful mechanism for investigating national-level disasters: it can subpoena witnesses, operate independently of the government, and issue binding recommendations. For many families, internal military probes and the state comptroller’s broad review lack the independence and authority to assign responsibility or recommend dismissals.

“Every institution is investigating itself,” said Hila Abir, whose brother Lotan was killed at the Nova music festival. “That’s not accountability. We need a real, independent commission that publishes findings and brings change — so that we never wake up to another October 7.”

Political standoff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed a state commission because judges would be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — an institution his government has spent years challenging. He argues that many Israelis lack faith in a state commission under the court’s jurisdiction and instead proposes alternative mechanisms: a government-appointed committee or a parliamentary panel split between coalition and opposition members. Critics say these formats would be less independent and could be shaped to protect political leaders rather than uncover the full truth.

Netanyahu has said any future inquiry will not be a state commission “under any circumstances.” He has tasked ministers with forming a committee to recommend the inquiry’s mandate within 45 days — a process that dissenting families call a further postponement.

Public opinion and next steps

Opinion polls contradict the prime minister’s portrayal of public distrust. A late-October survey by the Institute for National Security Studies found roughly 74% of Israelis support establishing a state commission of inquiry. Even among voters in Netanyahu’s coalition, a majority (52%) backed it, while opposition voters supported it at 92%.

Meanwhile, the IDF has completed internal probes and the state comptroller has opened an unusually wide review, but without subpoena powers or full independence these inquiries have limited ability to assign blame or recommend accountability measures. Bereaved families have vowed further demonstrations and legal pressure, and the ministerial committee has 45 days to present its recommendations — a timeline that will be watched closely by victims’ families, political opponents, and international observers.

What comes next: The central question facing Israel is whether the next inquiry will be empowered to name failures and recommend reforms, or whether political considerations will limit its scope. For many families, only a genuinely independent state commission can provide the answers and accountability they demand.