Gadi Eizenkot Proposes Detailed State Inquiry into October 7 Massacre and War

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael! party and former IDF Chief of Staff, unveiled a detailed draft proposal for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre and the ensuing war. He presented the plan on Wednesday at Kibbutz Nir Oz, aiming for its approval in the first meeting of the next government, should he form it. The proposal is based on a public initiative developed by captive survivor Gadi Mozes and former National Security Council legal advisor Gil Avriel.

The call for a state inquiry is not new, with political figures such as Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan previously pledging to establish one if they became prime minister. However, Eizenkot’s move to publish a comprehensive draft, including the commission’s mandate, investigative scope, composition, and operational procedures, and inviting public feedback is unprecedented.

Critics argue Eizenkot bears partial responsibility for the failures of October 7 due to his tenure as Chief of Staff (2015-2019), during which he led the "Gideon" plan that reduced ground forces and adopted a policy of deterrence and containment toward Hamas. Supporters counter that responsibility is shared among political and military leadership over many years and that several governments and defense officials have served since his term.

The proposed commission would investigate not only the events of October 7 but also the decade preceding it, starting from the end of Operation Protective Edge. It aims to examine policies, decision-making, and conduct of political, military, and state authorities regarding Gaza and Hamas. Key areas include security perceptions of Gaza and Hamas, IDF and intelligence preparedness, civil-military relations, state performance during the massacre and war, war objectives and hostage rescue decisions, national information operations, and implementation of previous inquiry recommendations.

The commission would be established under the Commissions of Inquiry Law, with the Supreme Court President appointing five members after consulting the government, Supreme Court Vice President, President of Israel, and Knesset Speaker. It may form professional subcommittees and must submit an interim report within a year if needed.

Eizenkot criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for avoiding accountability and truth nearly three years after the failure, accusing them of running false campaigns instead of releasing protocols. He stressed that the commission is essential for national rehabilitation and expressed hope that in a decade, the Gaza border communities will be safer and more prosperous.

Gadi Mozes, a captive survivor and co-initiator of the proposal, said adopting their work gives him hope. He noted that many residents of Nir Oz remain unwilling to return home due to unlearned lessons. Mozes emphasized that without a state commission, residents of the Gaza border will never feel secure, and establishing the commission is vital for genuine recovery of Nir Oz, the border communities, and Israel as a whole.