Israeli High Court Orders Netanyahu to Address Calls for October 7 Inquiry
The government has 60 days to hold a cabinet discussion on forming an independent commission to investigate the Hamas attack, as public pressure mounts.
- Israel's High Court of Justice has mandated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet to convene within 60 days to discuss forming a National Commission of Inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attacks.
- Despite widespread public support, the coalition government has blocked opposition-led efforts to establish an inquiry, citing the ongoing war as a priority.
- Families of victims and hostages, alongside civil society groups, have petitioned the court, emphasizing the need for an independent investigation to uncover systemic failures.
- A National Commission of Inquiry, the most powerful investigative mechanism in Israel, would operate independently of political influence and have subpoena power.
- Critics accuse the government of delaying accountability, while alternative proposals for less independent inquiries have been floated by coalition members.