Three Years Without Answers: Thousands Demand State Commission

Three years have elapsed since the catastrophic events of October 7, yet countless families and citizens across Israel continue to navigate a profound vacuum marked by a lack of official accountability and answers. In response to this ongoing silence, a crowd exceeding 12,000 people converged on Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square for a poignant rally titled "For Them. For Us." The gathering united a diverse cross-section of Israeli society, including bereaved relatives, survivors of the massacres and captivity, combat soldiers, reservists, wounded veterans, and displaced residents from both the southern and northern frontiers.

The central demand resonating through the square was unequivocal: the immediate establishment of an independent, state commission of inquiry. Participants argued that such an investigation is essential not only to uncover how citizens were left defenseless and to assign responsibility across all leadership tiers, but also to ensure that a national disaster of this magnitude is never repeated. The timing of the protest carried significant political weight, occurring just three days before scheduled national elections, thereby placing the unresolved questions of October 7 directly at the doorstep of those seeking public trust.

Opening remarks were delivered by public figures Yossi Marshak and Titi Aynaw, who extended solidarity to the families enduring unimaginable grief. Marshak addressed the resilience of the crowd, noting that despite three years of exhaustion attempts, normalization efforts, and discouragement, the public remains steadfast in its pursuit of truth. Aynaw acknowledged the enduring collective trauma, paying tribute to recent casualties while highlighting how personal tragedies galvanized a massive grassroots movement of mutual aid, civil engagement, and unwavering solidarity.

Among the most powerful testimonies was that of Rabbi Elchanan Danino, whose son Ori was abducted from the Nova festival and subsequently murdered in Hamas captivity. Speaking through tears, Danino delivered a sharp critique of political leaders resisting an inquiry, stating that those who evade a state commission likely have substantial reasons to hide. He asserted that a nation failing to scrutinize its past jeopardizes its future. Furthermore, Danino drew parallels to other unresolved national tragedies, referencing the disappearance of young Haimnot Kasau and urging authorities to act.

Freed hostage Danielle Aloni, who survived 49 days in Gaza captivity alongside her young daughter Emilia, shared the harrowing psychological terror of being unable to protect one's child. Her testimony underscored the profound human cost of the security failure and reinforced the universal demand for accountability. As the rally concluded, the overarching message remained clear: the pursuit of truth and justice is foundational to preserving the nation's democratic fabric and securing a safer future for the next generation.