Bereaved families supported a new proposed framework for a commission of inquiry into the government’s handling of the October 7 Hamas attacks, offering what they describe as a comprehensive compromise amid the ongoing deadlock over who should lead the probe.
The proposal was initiated by the Shover Shivyon civic organization and announced on Monday. Iris Haim, mother of slain hostage Yotam Haim, said it was “a breakthrough unlike anything I’ve seen."
Prof. Nitzan Censor from the organization said the proposal may provide a final opportunity to establish a broadly trusted investigative body to investigate the attacks.
“The appointment of the commission members is currently the most critical issue," he explained, offering a new compromise.
The organization proposes establishing a four-member appointing committee composed of representatives from the government, the Supreme Court, the coalition, and the opposition. This four-person body would be required to unanimously appoint the five members of the commission, which would be headed by a retired Supreme Court or District Court judge.
The composition of the proposed commission
The commission would be granted full powers similar to those of a traditional state commission of inquiry. Hundreds of Likud members and university jurists have signed onto the framework, alongside bereaved families.
“We call on the conflicted political system to adopt our framework and bring hope to the people of Israel,” Censor said.
“The proposal we are presenting here, by supporters and opponents of the government together with bereaved families, is the last opportunity to establish a commission of inquiry that will enjoy cross-camp public trust, before Israel enters an election campaign that would delay this for a long time,” he said.
“The ones who benefit from that delay are our enemies," he added.
The proposal comes as the government advances a controversial bill that would establish a new investigative mechanism.
The advancing bill, proposed by MK Ariel Kallner (Likud), calls for a politically appointed committee to conduct the probe. It has sparked outrage among bereaved family members, with claims of a conflict of interest in the investigation.
The controversial bill diverges from the traditional independent state commission of inquiry overseen by the Supreme Court.
A state commission of inquiry is considered the most authoritative and independent investigative system under Israeli law. It operates entirely outside the political echelon.
Amid the ongoing rift between the government and the judiciary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed judicial authorities leading the investigation.
Likud Central Committee member and strategist Moti Ohana emphasized on Monday the urgency of reaching a consensus between all sides on how to conduct the probe into October 7.
“I’ve been a Likudnik [Likud supporter] and a Bibi supporter for 40 years, and I sent my children to war,” Ohana said. “We have a supreme interest in establishing a commission of inquiry acceptable to both sides. We have no other choice if we want to prevent such a disaster from happening again.”
“There’s no reason we can’t find five commission members acceptable to both camps. This is the only way to reach elections and emerge from them as one society. If a commission is not established now, I doubt it will be established at all.”
Rabbi Shmuel Slotki, who lost both his sons on October 7, called on Israel’s leadership to act.
“We demand that you, the leaders of the state, heal the fracture, break the deadlock, and establish an agreed commission of inquiry,” he said. “Only in this way will we restore trust to the people of Israel.”