Netanyahu's Refusal to Accept Responsibility for October 7 Failures Deepens Israel's Political Crisis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting accusations of evading responsibility for the security failures that led to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, as tensions rise between Israel's political leadership and military command.

For over two years, weekly demonstrations have highlighted public frustration with Netanyahu's handling of both the Gaza war and the hostage crisis, reflecting deep divisions within Israeli society about the government's response to the attack that claimed 1,221 lives.

Despite polls indicating more than 70 percent of Israelis support establishing a state commission of inquiry—similar to the one that followed the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and led to Prime Minister Golda Meir's resignation—Netanyahu's government has consistently blocked such efforts.

During a November 10 parliamentary session, Netanyahu rejected calls for an independent investigation, claiming the opposition would weaponize it for political purposes. His coalition government has frequently criticized the supreme court for alleged political bias.

The 76-year-old Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister with over 18 years in office across three terms since 1996, has demonstrated remarkable political resilience throughout his career.

"Netanyahu doesn't take responsibility for anything: it's always someone's fault," observed Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at London's Chatham House. "The idea that after these two years, there's no inquest, and he tried to escape it—most Israelis won't accept it."

The military recently announced disciplinary actions against several senior officers, including the dismissal of three generals, following an internal investigation into the October 7 security failures. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who oversaw this review through an independent committee, publicly called for a broader "systemic investigation" to extract lessons from the attack.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu perceived these remarks as betrayal from Zamir, who had previously served as his military adviser. Defence Minister Israel Katz subsequently ordered a review of the committee's work—a move Lieutenant General Zamir described as "puzzling."

In a military statement, Zamir noted that the defense forces "is the only body in the country that has thoroughly investigated its own failures and taken responsibility for them," adding that any further examination "must take the form of an external, objective and independent commission."

Independent analyst Michael Horowitz characterized Defence Minister Katz as widely viewed by Israelis as a "political loyalist, a 'yes man' who rarely diverges from Netanyahu." While friction between political and military leadership isn't unprecedented under Netanyahu's administration, the current public disagreement stands out.

"The main reason is that this isn't about personality so much as a divide as to who is to blame for October 7, and how this question should be settled," Horowitz explained.

Netanyahu maintains that no state commission will be established until the Gaza conflict concludes. Instead, in mid-November, his government announced an "independent" investigation into the October 7 failures—one whose members would be selected by cabinet ministers.

This alternative approach sparked outrage, with thousands gathering in Tel Aviv on November 16 to demand a proper state commission. Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government NGO, emphasized at the protest: "It should be an objective committee. A committee who will really find out how come that we had such a failure, such a crisis."

Throughout this period, Netanyahu has never acknowledged personal responsibility for the security breakdown that enabled the Hamas attack. According to Horowitz, "He has one strong and straightforward incentive not to take responsibility. Accepting the blame means leaving office. After all, almost all of those who accepted part of the blame have left."

Despite the controversy, Netanyahu has confirmed his intention to run in the next elections, scheduled before the end of 2026.