Netanyahu Calls for 30 Days of National Mourning Before 2026 Elections to Demand Accountability for October 7 Failures
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Israelis to observe a month of mourning and national reflection from late September to late October 2026, coinciding with the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks. He emphasized that this period should not be a single day of remembrance but thirty days dedicated to honoring the nearly 2,000 victims killed in the attacks, supporting the tens of thousands injured, and standing with families of hostages. Netanyahu criticized the current government for failing to take responsibility for the security failures that led to the tragedy, calling for a state commission of inquiry that is balanced between opposition and coalition members to uncover the truth.
Netanyahu condemned the government’s handling of the crisis, accusing it of prioritizing political survival over national responsibility and ignoring warnings that could have prevented the attacks. He highlighted the failures of the military and intelligence agencies but stressed that ultimate accountability lies with the government overseeing them. Netanyahu recalled that after the Yom Kippur War, a commission was promptly established, contrasting it with the current refusal to investigate the October 7 events, which he said stem from long-term policy mistakes.
He called on citizens to make the month before the elections a time to remember the victims and demand accountability, urging communities to share stories of the fallen, visit graves, support survivors, and recognize the families of hostages. Netanyahu warned against the government’s attempts to distract the public with political crises and spin, framing the month as a "fast against forgetting." He stressed that on election day, voters should remember the cost of the failures and vote accordingly to initiate national repair.
The article concludes with a call for truth, responsibility, and a state inquiry as prerequisites for national recovery, asserting that only through these steps can Israel move forward. Netanyahu’s message was delivered in a video accompanied by official footage and sound, underscoring the gravity of the call to action.
