Families of Oct. 7 Victims Launch Protest Against 'Distortion of History'

Families of Israelis killed and held hostage during the October 7th Hamas attacks have established a "Sukkah of Negligence" in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, inviting the public to join their "struggle for truth and against the distortion of history." The protest is a direct response to recent publications in major U.S. media outlets detailing prior warnings about the impending attack.

A "New York Times" report revealed a conversation between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where bin Zayed allegedly warned of a major Hamas offensive. This warning was reportedly not mentioned by Netanyahu in a security briefing on October 1st, where he opposed a proposal to target Hamas leaders. The report also noted that Netanyahu denied the conversation.

Furthermore, an extensive investigation by "The Atlantic" magazine detailed a secret visit by Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to Israel just 11 days before the massacre. During his brief 67-minute stay, Kamel allegedly warned of a significant Hamas attack and urged Israel to ease economic restrictions on Gaza to prevent escalation. Egyptian officials reportedly continued to issue warnings up to two days before October 7th.

At the protest site, Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff and current member of the war cabinet, met with the families. He expressed sorrow that more hostages were not returned, attributing this to a lack of "brave decisions." Eisenkot pledged to establish a state commission of inquiry upon the formation of the next government, contrasting his sense of responsibility with that of others.

Shelly Miesel Yogev, mother of a victim, directly questioned Netanyahu's conscience, stating, "How does he even fall asleep at night after all the warnings he received?" She asserted that the "New York Times" and "The Atlantic" reports leave no room for doubt that the Israeli leadership received explicit warnings and failed to act, leading to over 2,000 deaths. Einav Tsengaukker, mother of a released hostage, echoed these sentiments, stating that the "conspiracy of silence is beginning to break" and that anyone "with their hand on the wheel" on October 7th must step down.

Gil Dickmann, cousin of a murdered hostage, added that the U.S. media reports confirm that the Israeli leadership was repeatedly warned, calling the failure to act a "dangerous gamble that cost lives." He urged those who knew and remained silent to come forward, warning that their silence implicates them in future failures.