Three Years After October 7 Massacre, Families Highlight Leadership Failures in Statement

Three years have passed since the October 7 massacre, and Israel continues to mark the day with solemn ceremonies and public remembrance. On October 7, 2026, the nation observed Memorial Day at 06:29, beginning with a series of events across the country. President Yitzhak Herzog and his wife lit a memorial candle at the President’s residence, symbolizing the nation’s collective grief. Families of the victims gathered in front of the Knesset, where they read statements alongside the skeletal remains of a car, a poignant reminder of the tragedy.

The families of the October Council issued a statement, expressing their anguish over the loss of over 2,200 loved ones. They emphasized the importance of remembering the victims, who were murdered, raped, burned, kidnapped, and wounded in the Hamas attacks. Yet, they also highlighted a critical responsibility: to ensure that the lessons of this day are not forgotten. The families have been actively collecting testimonies, documents, and protocols, engaging with senior officials in the political and security systems to understand the full scope of the events leading up to the massacre.

According to the families’ statement, a senior Shin Bet official testified that during a security review for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu around Rosh Hashanah, the possibility of thwarting Hamas targets in Gaza was presented. The official recounted that Netanyahu responded, “From the air in Gaza? Only if there is a terrible attack, otherwise something small is preferable.” This, the families claim, was not an isolated incident, as there were other instances where significant actions against Hamas were reportedly prevented in the weeks leading up to the massacre.

The families also shared a second troubling testimony, concerning a toast held in the IDF just days before the attack. During this event, the heads of the political and security establishment were present. A senior official testified that the prime minister and defense minister did not speak at all and did not agree to sit next to each other. A verbal confrontation arose between the defense minister and the military secretary over matters of honor and ego, leading to Gallanette leaving the room in anger.

These testimonies, according to the families, reveal a pattern of leadership failure and internal discord that may have contributed to the tragic outcome. As the nation reflects on the events of October 7, the call for accountability and transparency grows stronger, echoing the biblical principle of seeking justice and truth, as seen in Micah 6:8, which urges people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Hebrew)