Comptroller to grill Netanyahu, ex-security chiefs over Oct 7 failures
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Israeli Comptroller Englman seeks to question Netanyahu and other top officials over failures tied to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to then Security Minister Yoav Gallant, at the opening of a Knesset session in al-Quds, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP)
Israeli "State Comptroller" Matanyahu Englman announced on Monday that he and his team were seeking meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other senior political and security officials, as part of a broad investigation into the failures surrounding Operation al-Aqsa Flood.
In a statement, the comptroller said that he was seeking to meet with PM Netanyahu along with former Security Minister Yoav Gallant, former IOF chiefs of staff Herzi Halevi and Aviv Kohavi, as well as senior Shin Bet officials, as the investigation broadens to encompass key figures involved in decision-making.
According to the statement, the meetings are expected to address major political and security shortcomings, such as the functioning of the security cabinet, intelligence assessments, and the security measures along the Gaza border, representing a departure from previous inquiries conducted by security agencies, which have largely avoided scrutinizing political leadership
In a statement from his office announcing his intention to interview Netanyahu and others, Englman emphasized, "Everyone is obligated to cooperate with the probe. Attacks by parties seeking to evade scrutiny will not deter us from conducting the state comptroller's work in the most professional manner."
'Top-secret' questions
The statement noted that officials had received detailed questions classified as "top secret", with meetings currently being arranged to examine the findings and guarantee accountability throughout all tiers of government, military, and security services.
The documents already submitted to Netanyahu reportedly addressed multiple critical issues, including the lack of a comprehensive "national security strategy" and the excessive political influence over military decision-making. It also includes the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings against security detainees, as well as the management of displaced settlers evacuated from border areas and the impact on "Israel's" global reputation.
Currently, the comptroller's investigation stands as the sole officially authorized comprehensive inquiry into the October 7 operation.
Investigation delayed by 15 months
Englman's investigation, launched in January 2024, faced significant delays when attempting to examine the IOF and Shin Bet, as the ongoing war and resistance from senior officials forced its suspension for more than a year.
The probe regained momentum following the appointment of IOF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in March 2025, with a formal framework for the investigation being established and subsequently approved by the High Court of Justice in April, finally enabling it to move forward.
Netanyahu and his government allies have maintained that any examination of government decision-making must wait until after the Gaza war concludes, disregarding persistent demands for their participation in a formal commission of inquiry while continuing to oppose growing calls to bring the conflict to an end.
“Full availability, submission of all relevant documents, and a professional engagement with the probe findings are required. Our sole obligation is to the citizens of Israel, who deserve answers on the core failure that led to the massacre,” Englman stressed, emphasizing that Israeli leaders must abide by the investigation.
