Will Israelis ever find out what failures led to October 7 rampage?

Three years after the October 7 attacks, Israel remains without a state commission of inquiry into the devastating day in its history. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points fingers at various officials within the security apparatus, excluding himself from blame, while his detractors firmly place the responsibility at his doorstep.

Until a state commission of inquiry is established, the most authoritative and comprehensive form of investigation available to Israel, the contentious debate will persist, further fracturing the already divided nation. The lack of such a body is particularly baffling, considering Israel's deep-rooted obsession with security. Following the debacle of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where Israeli forces were caught off guard and sustained significant initial losses, it took merely three weeks to set up a commission.

An inquiry into the October 7 events would scrutinize the security lapses preceding the tragedy, as well as the disorganized and ineffective aftermath. Critics argue that Israel desperately requires a broad-spectrum, independent body akin to a state commission of inquiry, capable of summoning witnesses and delivering recommendations for further action against certain individuals.

Ideally appointed by the Supreme Court president, rather than politicians, such a commission could potentially hold Netanyahu accountable for his role in the collective failure and the ensuing divisive period. Many of Netanyahu's opponents have made the establishment of a state commission a cornerstone of their campaign platforms in the upcoming October 27 general election.

Netanyahu's primary rival, Gadi Eisenkot, pledged to form one "immediately" should he win the election. With such a substantial time gap since the attacks, there are apprehensions that crucial evidence might have been damaged or lost. In August, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara cautioned that a delay could "weaken the effectiveness of a future investigation and lead to the loss of evidence."

Nonetheless, she advocated postponing the issue until after the election, fearing that the process could undermine the voting process. The Jerusalem-based news outlet Haaretz, which has been vocally advocating for a state commission of inquiry for years, recently published testimony from experts who contend that the efficacy of such an investigation may wane over time.

Eyal Eshel, a prominent advocate for the inquiry, cautioned that a delay "provides those under investigation with the opportunity to coordinate their testimonies, memories may fade, evidence could be concealed, and additional damage may occur." The daughter of one of the victims, who was killed at the Nahal Oz base when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border and initiated assaults on communities, military outposts, and a music festival early on October 7, 2023, has left the nation in a state of mourning less than three weeks before the upcoming election.

Trauma coexists with anger as Israelis commemorate the fallen and prepare for the upcoming polls. A ceasefire with Gaza has been achieved, despite Israel's ongoing attacks on the territory, as all hostages taken during the October 7 attacks have been freed, and nearly all senior security officials involved in the incidents have resigned, excluding the Prime Minister himself. Yet, the absence of answers continues to plague the nation.