'It's a rotten scam': Bereaved families reject idea of independent cm'tee for Oct. 7 investigation

Residents of the Gaza border communities were among those who rejected the idea.

"They're pulling a fast one on us. Making a mockery of us. This is a rotten scam; we won't accept this. Where does a body investigate itself? Where has that been heard of? We won't accept this, they're trying to dilute it. We'll do everything to cancel this decision," she added.

Under the government’s decision, Netanyahu will establish a ministerial committee that must, within 45 days, recommend the committee’s mandate to the government. The recommendation will include its authority, scope, and the time period it will investigate.

"Only a governmental investigation committee can truly investigate the government’s failures, [and] the failures of the political, military, and security leadership. Since the government, a group of cowards, wants to cover up its responsibility, they’re trying to create a scam committee," he continued. "This will not happen. We won’t let this happen."

He went on to say that the families would fight the decision.

"We will start a mass protest, we will take to the streets, and we will make sure that only a governmental investigation committee, as defined by law, will be established," he said.

Menashe Manzuri, whose children Norelle and Roya were also murdered at the Nova music festival, also expressed outrage over the decision.

"Our lives will never return to what they were, but we will continue fighting until a governmental investigation committee is established,” Manzuri said.

“We need the truth for us, for the state, and for the people. We need to know what happened, how it happened, and how we got to the point where thousands of terrorists infiltrated and murdered our children. Only a governmental investigation committee can reveal the truth. We cannot allow the investigated to appoint their own investigators. This is unacceptable," he added

Reut Edri, mother of Ido, who was also murdered at the music festival, added, "Netanyahu has declared war on the bereaved families, but not only on us but on the entire State of Israel. How will we have a future if we don't investigate the gravest failure in the state's history?"

"He's simply running from the truth, and we're all hostages to his personal interests. For two years, I've heard from everyone around me say, 'What can we do? How can we help? For two years, we've carried this struggle on our shoulders, and now is the time for the entire State of Israel to mobilize for the battle for truth," she added.

Renana Guma, whose two sons, Or and Yigal Yaakov, were released from Hamas captivity, and whose husband Yair was murdered, was also outraged.

"Once, we had a country. It’s unacceptable that there isn’t a state-run investigation committee. Maybe after the elections, we’ll have a proper state again," she said.

"It’s impossible for a committee to be established by those who should be investigated for the greatest failure in Israel’s history. It’s been two years, and they still haven’t established a real investigation committee to find out what happened," Avivit John from Be'eri said.

Gil Dickmann, cousin of Carmel Gat who was murdered while in Hamas captivity, said, "Now it’s clear, the October 7 government won’t investigate the October 7 failure. Netanyahu doesn’t want us to know that he is responsible for neglect, so he’s blocking a state-run investigation committee just like he blocked the hostage deal."

"No shady committee will erase the responsibility of the negligent government. The people of Israel will send them all home, investigate, and bring to justice those responsible who are running from the truth," he added.

Politicians also reacted to the announcement, calling it cowardly.

"The October 7 government, whose leaders are the only ones refusing to take responsibility for the worst disaster in Israel’s history, is establishing the cover-up and shady deal committee," he added.

Eisenkot said it was impossible for those responsible for the failure to determine its composition and areas of responsibility under the guise of broad agreement.

"It’s clear that this is all driven by fear and hysteria about the results of a real and independent investigation."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X/Twitter that the government is doing everything to avoid the truth and evade responsibility.

"There is broad public support for a state-run investigation committee. This is what the state needs, this is what the public demands, and this is what will happen. Their refusal to investigate their failures endangers the security of the state, is an insult, and a flight from responsibility to the soldiers and families who have sacrificed so much since October 7," he commented.

"In her outrageous remarks, Strock exposed the painful truth: For over two years, the Israeli government has not defined the return of the hostages as the goal of the war. This alone should be a central chapter in the investigation committee to be established to investigate the October 7 failure, the gravest failure in Israel’s history," the forum said.

"Perhaps she needs to be reminded that the return of the hostages was and still is the goal of the war, both morally and ethically and from a public perspective," the forum added.

"The return of our brothers from captivity is a primary Israeli, Jewish, and moral value, the people who do not bring back their children have no right to exist. The value of comradeship is one of the fundamental pillars of Israeli society," the forum affirmed.

"We will not rest. We will not stop. We will not give up on any hostage. We will not leave them behind," the forum concluded.

Other members include Agriculture and Raw Food Security Minister Avi Dichter (Likud), Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud), National Missions Minister Orit Strock (RZP), Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit), Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud), and MK Avi Dichter (Likud).