Former Hostage Rom Braslavski Demands Israel Government Resignation, State Inquiry Commission After October 7

Former hostage Rom Braslavski, recently liberated after two years of captivity in Hamas captivity, demanded the immediate resignation of Israel’s government and called for a state inquiry commission into the October 7 massacre.

“Former hostage survivor Rom Braslavsky, who returned to Israel after two years in Hamas captivity, launched a blistering attack on Israel’s political leadership on Monday during a press conference at the Knesset organized by the “October Council," a group campaigning for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre”

Israel National News

At a press conference at the Knesset organized by the “October Council,” Braslavski told lawmakers, "I call on all Knesset members, everyone - just resign. Take responsibility and get out of our lives," linking his captivity to what he said were failures that enabled the massacre.

Israel National News

Braslavski also urged, "And just before you leave - appoint the state inquiry commission that will investigate exactly what happened here, so it doesn't happen again," as families and residents from the Gaza border area and the North protested the opening of the Knesset’s summer session.

The Jerusalem Post described the group’s mission as keeping the October 7 massacre and the government’s avoidance of responsibility at the center of the public agenda, while Braslavski accused elected officials of responsibility for the failures that enabled the massacre.

Michel Ilouz, father of Guy who was murdered in Hamas captivity, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his remarks about the scope of a commission of inquiry.

Ilouz said Netanyahu told the public, "My problem with a commission of inquiry is that it goes up to October 7. What about since October 7? That was clearly my responsibility," and Ilouz responded by asking whether that meant Netanyahu was admitting responsibility for Guy’s murder.

The Jerusalem Post

Eyal Eshel, father of Roni Eshel, attacked the government’s framing of events, saying, "Government ministers say this was only a 'tactical failure' and that we are just playing the victims," while adding, "My Roni is in the cemetery in Kfar Saba. Section six, row one, grave two."

Nirit Baram, whose daughter Neta died on October 7, said the same people who failed were still running the country “as if nothing happened,” and she accused them of devoting everything to political survival and avoiding investigation.

Israel National News reported that Braslavski, speaking at the Knesset press conference, again demanded that lawmakers resign and said, "Take responsibility and get out of our lives. The blood of the victims of October 7 is on all of you."

“Members of the October Council, including former Gaza hostage Rom Braslavski, bereaved families, and residents of the Gaza border area and the North, arrived at the Knesset on Monday to protest at the opening of its summer session”

The Jerusalem Post

Braslavski also described what he said was a failure by authorities to respond to his return, asking, "Why, after two years in captivity, did none of you come to welcome me home, apologize for what happened, and say: 'We’re sorry it took two years to bring you back - here’s our help, whatever you need'?"

The same report said Braslavski accused officials of abandoning survivors to bureaucracy, including his fight over whether he was recognized as 50 percent or 100 percent disabled.

Israel National News further framed the political stakes by quoting Braslavski’s warning that, "The next elections will be a moral test for Israel - truth or lies, responsibility or escape," and said he vowed, "We will continue pursuing the truth until our final day."