Israeli groups start own probe into 7 October as Netanyahu delays state commission

Several groups representing victims of the 7 October attack on Israel have decided to form their own, unofficial probe as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to delay the creation of a state commission of investigation.

Families of the victims, both those who died in and survived the attack led by Hamas, said their civil commission includes retired generals, a former police commissioner and the author of the army’s "official code of ethics".

The announcement was made during a press conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Their so-called civil commission will "carry out a complex and comprehensive investigative process, through the collection of testimonies and evidence", The Times of Israel publication quoted organisers as saying.

The group aims to exert pressure on the government to establish its own state commission to investigate the alleged failings that led to the 7 October  attack. It will eventually "halt its activities and will submit its findings to the chairman of the state commission" when that is created.

Israel’s High Court last month issued an injunction to suspend an investigation by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman into the military and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, over alleged failings that led to the attack.

Justice Gila Canfy Steinitz put the court's ruling down to "the complex security situation," arguing the planned investigation could have detrimental effects on Israel’s war efforts in Gaza.

The comptroller’s investigation will be suspended until at least July, when the court will hear petitions against the inquiry.

The investigation has caused deep controversy in Israel due to fears Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to shift blame for his government's failings regarding 7 October onto the military and intelligence services.

The Israeli government and military have both come under criticism at home for their handling of the attack which left around 1,190 Israelis killed, who are still not fully accounted for.

Hamas and other Palestinian groups also took captive some 250 people, 120 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza. Dozens protested outside of Netanyahu's residence Thursday night demanding that he accepts a ceasefire deal with Hamas, which would see both sides swap Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives.

Hamas says its large and surprising 7 October attack — dubbed the "Al-Aqsa Flood" — came in response to Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories and attacks against the Palestinian people.

Israel responded with fresh strikes on Gaza, vowing to destroy Hamas. The now more than nine-month long war on the enclave has killed over 38,000 people — the majority of them women and children — and displaced most of Gaza's 2 million population, leaving much of the Strip in ruins.