Tel Aviv protests demand independent probe of Oct. 7 attack, target Netanyahu

Around a thousand Israelis gathered at Habima Square in Tel Aviv to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Demonstrators called for the creation of an independent state commission to investigate the Hamas assault on October 7, which killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and sparked a prolonged conflict in Gaza.

The protest followed the Knesset’s first reading of a draft law that would establish such a commission. While the bill passed with support from 59 lawmakers, opposition members boycotted the vote, arguing the government should not select members of the investigating body. Protesters accused the administration of arrogance and of prioritising controversial legislation over accountability. Meanwhile, an internal Israeli military review acknowledged intelligence and operational failures during the October 7 attack, leading to resignations and disciplinary actions for senior officers.