On July 6, 2026, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, approved in its first reading a bill to establish a commission of inquiry into the security failings that preceded the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The bill passed with 59 votes in favor and no votes against or abstentions in the 120-seat parliament.
The proposed commission aims to conduct a full, thorough, and independent investigation into the events of the October 7 massacre and the subsequent wars, according to an explanatory note accompanying the bill. The commission would consist of six members appointed by a two-thirds majority of Knesset members. Former hostages and bereaved family members would serve as observers, and the commission's deliberations would be publicly broadcast.
A statement published by the Knesset emphasized that the commission "can investigate any entity that influenced Israel's security policy at its core," highlighting the intent for a comprehensive inquiry.
However, opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, arguing that the commission would lack independence due to its political appointment process. They expressed concerns that the commission could serve to "whitewash and prevent the investigation of the greatest disaster to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust."
The bill will return to the Knesset Constitution Committee for further discussion before final readings, expected next week prior to the Knesset's dissolution.
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