Thousands Demand State Inquiry Commission Three Days Before Elections

Thousands gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening for a rally demanding the establishment of a state inquiry commission, three years after the October 7th attacks. Participants, including bereaved families, survivors of the massacre and captivity, hostage families, soldiers, reservists, and residents from the Gaza envelope and the north, are seeking answers regarding the lack of protection for their loved ones on that day, accountability, and measures to prevent future disasters. The rally, titled "For Them. For Us," aimed to bring these critical questions to the forefront as the public chooses its representatives in the upcoming elections.

The event was opened by hosts Yossi Marshek and Titi Einau, who offered words of solidarity to all those affected by the war. Marshek addressed the crowd, emphasizing the large turnout as a testament to their ongoing struggle and refusal to accept denial or normalization of the events. "We are here to say: we will not give up on the truth," he stated.

Einau spoke about the shared pain among attendees, acknowledging recent losses, including Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam, who were killed in an attack. She highlighted the immense movement of mobilization and volunteering that has emerged from the collective grief, with individuals and families turning their personal tragedies into a collective fight for a better future. The rally was dedicated to those lost, those who returned, those still fighting, and the future of the country.