State Comptroller Says Senior Officers Sought to Remove Accountability Section from October 7 Reviews

Outgoing State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman said on Wednesday at the MUNI EXPO 2026 local government conference that senior military officials asked him to remove the accountability chapter from the investigations into the October 7 attacks. He said he rejected the request outright, adding, “We must take responsibility.”

Engelman said the public deserves answers about the October 7 events and asked, “Who is afraid of the truth?” He said the comptroller’s office is examining responsibility at all levels, and argued that when a failure is so severe, he is obligated to Israel’s citizens. He also said that, based on the State Comptroller’s report, a state commission of inquiry can be established, and noted that Israel is already three years past the attack without such a commission.

He specifically raised questions about the massacre at the Nova festival site, saying the public and bereaved parents deserve answers, including why IDF forces had not arrived at the party site by 10:30 a.m. On the eve of the 1,000th day since October 7, he said, “The legislature is required to deal with the issue.”

His remarks came amid reports of a political deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties, under which the Haredi parties would receive a Basic Law on Torah study and a law granting draft-dodger immunity from arrest, in exchange for advancing a political inquiry into October 7, alongside a bill to split the attorney general’s role. In response, the October Council, which represents survivors, southern residents, bereaved families, hostage families and families of victims, called on Engelman to explicitly demand an immediate state commission of inquiry and announced a civilian national memorial day with ceremonies, protests, caravans, a nationwide minute of silence and a central rally.