Hundreds Gather in Tel Aviv to Demand State Inquiry into October 7 Security Failures

Families of October 7 victims gather in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square to demand a state inquiry into the security failures surrounding the 2023 Hamas attack.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 6:31 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Bereaved Families Convene for Alternative Memorial Service

Hundreds of demonstrators assembled at Habima Square in Tel Aviv for a ceremony organized by the October Council, a group representing the families of those killed during the 2023 Hamas onslaught. The event combined traditional mourning with a sharp call for political and security accountability, specifically demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. This gathering serves as a public platform for the relatives of those abducted and killed in captivity to voice their grievances against the current administration's handling of the disaster.

Symbolic Defiance Through the Lens of Remembrance

The ceremony was held under the provocative title Yishkach, meaning "forget," which serves as a linguistic inversion of the traditional Yizkor or "remember" prayer. This choice of wording emphasizes the protesters' fear that the failures leading up to the attack are being intentionally obscured by the political leadership. The timing of the event is particularly significant, occurring just before the commencement of Israel’s official Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.

Visual Tributes and Calls for Judicial Oversight

At the heart of the square, a small stage displayed the names of dozens of soldiers who have lost their lives since the conflict began in October 2023. Mourners arranged memorial candles into the shape of the numbers 7.10, marking the date of the initial massacre. These visual memorials were paired with demands for a state commission of inquiry, which remains Israel’s highest investigative authority and is traditionally presided over by the judiciary to ensure impartial findings.