Press conference of the Israeli Civilian Committee of Inquiry on the Oct. 7 massacre in Tel Aviv, Nov. 26, 2024. Photo courtesy of Tomer Neuberg/Flash90.

JNS

The Civilian Committee of Inquiry, an unofficial probe into the events leading up to and during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, issued its conclusions on Tuesday, Nov. 26, charging subsequent Israeli governments and the defense establishment with “arrogance” that led Hamas to manage to infiltrate.

“Arrogance is what led, according to various testimonies, to the fact that the IDF was not prepared for the massive invasion of Hamas terrorists into Israel, even though their plan was known,” the 75-page report said. According to the committee, “arrogance and inherent blindness also led the political echelon to continue strengthening Hamas by transferring funds and avoiding taking offensive initiatives in the face of threats.”

Money For Quiet?

The panel concluded: “In light of the testimonies and findings, it can be conclusively determined that the government in general, and the prime minister in particular, did not prepare or plan adequately not only for the disaster of Oct. 7, but also for other disaster scenarios.”

The citizens’ committee assigned personal blame to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former premiers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, subsequent defense ministers and a majority of government ministers. It also blamed Israel Defense Forces’ chiefs of staff of the past decade, the army’s Southern Command, Gaza Division and Military Intelligence Directorate, and faulted the IDF and Israel Police for a lack of coordination.

“Netanyahu is largely responsible for the ‘money for quiet’ concept,” the panel members claimed. “Former prime ministers Bennett and Lapid are also responsible for the decision not to deliver a pre-emptive strike on Hamas, as well as for maintaining the concept of ‘money for quiet.’”

The committee was established in July by families of those murdered on Oct. 7, representatives of the devastated border towns and NGOs. The committee chairperson is retired Tel Aviv District Court judge Varda Alshech and comprised of IDF Brig. Gen. (res.) Yehudit Grisaro; former Israel Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki; Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven; Rafi Ben Shitrit, the father of soldier Staff Sgt. Alroy Ben Shitrit, who was killed on Oct. 7; and Eyal Eshel, father of IDF field observer (“tatzpitanit”) Sgt. Roni Eshel, who was also murdered.The committee heard some 120 testimonies, including from former prime ministers, senior politicians, retired and current members of the defense establishment, survivors of the massacre.

Official Inquiry?

Over the summer, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel stressed the need for Jerusalem to launch a formal state commission of inquiry into the events leading up to and during the Oct. 7 massacre, stressing that the public testimonies at the Civilian Committee could harm state security.

Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to launch an inquiry by a political committee, which would have as chairpersons one coalition lawmaker and one opposition lawmaker. Security officials would also serve on the panel.

A draft of the proposal calls for outlawing any other investigative body from probing the Hamas massacre, Israel’s Ynet has reported.

In May, Netanyahu told U.S. television star Dr. Phil in an interview that he holds “myself and everyone” responsible for the deadly failures leading up to Oct. 7.” He added, “We have to examine how it happened. I think we’re going to have to give a thorough explanation. We’re going to have to have a thorough examination once the war ends of exactly what happened, how it happened and who made it happen,” Netanyahu declared. “But I think right now, our goal is one: to achieve victory.”