Today (Tuesday), bereaved families and victims of the October 7th attack announced the establishment of the "October Council" at a press conference. At the center of the press statement, the families said that as part of the journey to repair and restore the state, two main and fundamental steps are needed: the return of all the hostages and the investigation of the truth.
The families emphasized the great importance of investigating the truth in order to prevent another disaster, and without understanding the failures and drawing the necessary conclusions, the next disaster is already on the horizon. The families further emphasized that it is our duty to investigate everything and everyone without bias, through a state commission of inquiry as stipulated by law.
John Polin, father of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin, who was brutally murdered by Hamas after surviving nearly a year in the Hamas tunnels: "This issue is not political." I am a Zionist. We are a people who study and grapple with the truth. To this day, Jews sit in pairs every day and seek answers. Even to the most difficult questions. There is no disagreement here; we all want to learn from our experience of October 7th. I join the 85% of Israeli citizens who are calling for the establishment of an immediate and proper state commission of inquiry to investigate everything and everyone.
Rafi Ben Shitrit, father of the late Elroi Ben Shitrit, a balloonist who fell in the heroic battle at the Nahal Oz base on the morning of October 7th: "We are not breathing." All we ask is to know. Just to know. What happened, how it happened, why it happened, and how to prevent the next disaster, and this for the sake of the next generation. History will not forgive those who procrastinate, evade, and cover up. We demand a state inquiry committee, as stipulated by law, to thoroughly and meticulously investigate the failure and the disaster. There is no political stance being expressed here. There are people here from the right, the left, the center, from across the political spectrum. The beginning of the correction is in taking responsibility. There is no other way to investigate and examine effectively and transparently – without fear and without bias, except for a state commission of inquiry. Any other variation of an investigation aims to dilute and prevent the exposure of the truth and justice for the fallen and their families.
Ilan Eshl, the father of Roni Eshl, of blessed memory, a lookout who fell on the afternoon of October 7 at the Nahal Oz base, said: "Yesterday, I enlisted my middle daughter Yael into the Israel Defense Forces." Alongside the excitement, there was also great pain due to the trust crisis we experienced on that dreadful Saturday. But we have only one IDF, and we will fix it together. Through the truth. Even if it is painful and difficult. From this platform, I am shouting my demand for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry that will investigate everything and everyone. Stop everything, put all other matters aside, and make the crucial decision needed for the required correction. My Roni, a year ago I promised above your fresh grave that I would not give up and would search for the answers for you. Today we are taking another step on the path to truth. Truth that will bring with it security.
Tali Beiner, a Nova survivor who witnessed Hamas's sexual crimes on October 7th, said: "On that dark morning, I was lying on the floor of a caravan with six other friends, deep in the party area, while I heard for hours how terrorists were raping and murdering my friends, enjoying the knowledge that no one was coming to stop the abominable acts they were committing." I am here today to talk about the pursuit of truth, humanity, justice, achieving security, and preventing the next disaster that could strike us at any moment. We, the survivors and the families of the murdered, desperately need answers – answers that will help us process our immense pain and understand what happened on that terrible day so that we can know we are living under a political and military system capable of conducting an objective internal review, learning from mistakes, and improving. We deserve at least that.
Among the families leading the October Council are:
Rafi Ben Shitrit, father of the late Elroi Ben Shitrit
John Polin, father of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin who was brutally murdered by Hamas
Chaim Yellin, a survivor of the Beeri massacre and former head of the Eshkol Regional Council
Nili Margalit, a hostage survivor who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz and treated many hostages in the Hamas tunnels
Avi and Adi Marciano, parents of the late lookout Noa Marciano
Ayal and Sharon Eshl, parents of the late lookout Roni Eshl
Liad and Nirit Baram, parents of the late Neta Baram
Yoram Yehudai, father of the late Ron Yehudai who was murdered along with 8 other young people in the Nova complex
Hila Abir, sister of the late Lutan Abir who was murdered at the Nova festival
Tali Beiner, a Nova survivor who witnessed Hamas's sexual crimes on October 7
Menashe Manczur, father of the late Roy and Norel Manczur who were murdered at the Nova party
Galit Waldman, mother of the late Captain Ariel Ben Moshe, a platoon commander in the Sayeret Matkal who fell in the battle for Kibbutz Re'im on the morning of October 7
Yizhar Shai, father of the late Yaron (Noni) Shai, a fighter in the Nahal Brigade, who fell in a heroic battle while defending Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the morning of October 7
Shlomo Sharaf, grandfather of the late Mai Naim who was murdered at the Nova party on Black Saturday
Tzvia Aberjil, mother of the late Sergeant Major Meir Aberjil, a police officer who was killed in the battle for the Sderot police station on October 7
Colonel Hanokh Daube, a recipient of the Medal of Courage, who fought heroically in battles against terrorists on October 7 in the Gaza envelope and later fought in the ground maneuver in the Strip.
