Tens of thousands rally in Tel Aviv demanding inquiry into October 7 failures
Opposition leaders join bereaved families and survivors at Hostages Square as speakers call for answers and honor those lost
Thousands gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to demand the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The rally was organized by the October Council, a coalition of relatives and friends of victims and survivors. Several prominent opposition figures attended, including Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett of the Beyachad movement, and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Yossi Marshak and Titi Aynaw opened the event with a message of solidarity for bereaved families, survivors of the massacre and captivity, hostage families, soldiers, and those suffering from physical and psychological wounds.
“We want to tell you all: our hearts are with you. We stand by your side; you are not alone,” they said.
Addressing the crowd, Marshak said the turnout reflected a determination to continue demanding answers after three years of pain and struggle. He accused those seeking to normalize the situation of trying to wear people down and pressure them into accepting the status quo.
“We are here to say: we will not give up the truth,” he said.
Aynaw also paid tribute to families who had recently lost loved ones, naming Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Swilam, who were killed in a terrorist attack.
“We are all here tonight sharing the pain,” she said, offering condolences to both families following the announcement of their deaths the previous day.
She also expressed solidarity with families who had lost loved ones to suicide amid severe psychological distress.
“May their memory be blessed,” she said.