Israeli Defense Minister Asks PM Netanyahu To Be Investigated For Failure Of Hamas Attack October 7

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant/PHOTO via Instagram @yoav.gallant

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for a state investigation into a failure related to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The state, said Gallant, must investigate itself and his superior, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Gallant made the statement at the graduation ceremony of a new military officer, which was also attended by Netanyahu, whose coalition government was already strained by the dispute.

State investigations, he said, must be objective.

"It is necessary to investigate all of us, those who make decisions and implement them, the government, military, and security agencies," reported Reuters, Friday, July 12.

"They have to investigate me, the Minister of Defense, they have to investigate the prime minister," Gallant continued, greeted with cheers.

Netanyahu has rejected calls in the past to form a state investigation into the October 7 attacks, which made Israel careless and sparked war in Gaza, saying that inspections of what happened should be carried out after the war ended.

Only the government can decide to form a state investigation commission, which has a broad mandate and the findings produced have great weight. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court chose its members.

Gallant broke up with Netanyahu before.

Last year, after months of national protests against the government's plan to limit the attorney general's power, Gallant said the proposed bill should be scrapped, and warned public disputes could harm national security.

Netanyahu immediately locked him down, pushing tens of thousands of Israelis down to the streets to support the Gallant. The veteran prime minister finally gave in and Gallant kept his job.

Gallant has since clashed with Netanyahu over Gaza's strategy, prompting some Likud party members to call for him to be dismissed from office.