The Israeli Parliament approved the first reading of a bill on July 6, 2026, to establish a commission of inquiry into security failings that preceded the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people [1, 2, 3]. The vote passed with 59 in favor and no opposition or abstentions in the 120-seat Knesset [1, 2, 3].
The commission will have six members appointed by a two-thirds majority of Knesset members. If no agreement is reached, three members will be appointed from the ruling coalition and three from the opposition [1, 2]. However, one report states Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would appoint half the members and the opposition the other half; the opposition’s boycott could leave Netanyahu appointing all members [3].
The commission’s proceedings will be publicly broadcast, and the bill allows former hostages and bereaved family members to attend as observers [1, 2]. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, demanding an independent state commission appointed by the Supreme Court president [1, 2, 3]. Opposition leader Yair Lapid confirmed the boycott [3]. They accused the parliamentary-appointed commission of lacking independence and warned it could be a whitewash [2].
Ariel Kallner, a Likud party lawmaker, said, "Only a commission appointed in an egalitarian manner will allow us both to uncover the truth and maintain the public’s trust. This will be a commission that can investigate any entity that influenced Israel’s security policy at its core" [1].
The commission’s aim is to investigate any entity that influenced Israel’s security policy leading up to the attack [1, 2]. The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack was a major assault killing around 1,200 people and prompted a large-scale Israeli military offensive [3].
The bill’s next stages in the legislative process have not yet been completed. The commission’s formation and scope will follow the completion of all readings and approval in the Knesset.
