At a state memorial on October 5, 2026, marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Yaakov Godo interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused him of failing to protect victims, saying the blood of his son was on the prime minister’s hands. KAN reports that attackers entered the Godo family home in Kissufim on October 7, 2023; when IDF forces retook the house on October 8, soldiers mistakenly fired on the shelter, fatally wounding Tom. The IDF notified the family in 2025 that Israeli fire had caused his death.
Bereaved Father Interrupts Netanyahu At Mount Herzl Memorial, Blames PM For Son’s Death
A State Memorial Ceremony for the civilians who were murdered during the October 7 Massacre, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 5, 2026. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/POOL)
Yaakov Godo, father of Oct. 7 victim Tom Godo, interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a state ceremony at Mount Herzl on October 5, 2026, marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
During the address, Yaakov shouted that the government failed to protect victims and placed responsibility directly on the prime minister. The speech paused briefly before Netanyahu resumed the ceremony to honor the victims and heroes of that day.
“It's a disgrace that you didn't protect those murdered on October 7,” Yaakov Godo shouted. “The blood of my son and of another 1,200 people murdered in a single day is on his (Netanyahu's) hands and on his head.”
What Happened To Tom Godo
According to reporting by KAN News, attackers entered the Godo family home in Kissufim, near the Gaza border, on October 7, 2023. The family sheltered while the attackers were barricaded inside. When IDF forces retook the house on October 8, 2023, soldiers fired on the shelter door after allegedly mistaking those inside for militants; Tom was fatally struck.
KAN reports that Limor Godo, Tom's daughter, was initially told by soldiers that he had been killed by terrorists. The family later learned — with the IDF informing them in 2025 — that Israeli fire was responsible for his death. Tom's funeral took place on October 13, 2023.
The confrontation at Mount Herzl highlights lingering grief and accountability questions tied to the October 7 events. The incident and the later military acknowledgment have continued to fuel debate over failures in preparedness, operational mistakes, and how authorities communicated with bereaved families.
Source: KAN News. Photo credit: Section 27A.
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