Eisenkot opens parliamentary offensive against Netanyahu over 7 October inquiry

Gadi Eisenkot and his allies have used the opening session of Israel's new parliament to press a series of proposals aimed at reversing measures backed by Benjamin Netanyahu's government. The move came as lawmakers gathered in Jerusalem for the first sitting of the 26th Knesset, where the atmosphere was marked by confrontations between members. The political manoeuvre also comes against the backdrop of a deadlock over who will form the next government.

According to the supporting material, neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu has secured the 61 votes needed to command a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot's bloc brings together parties from different political currents and includes support from Arab-Israeli lawmakers. The bloc also said it had enough votes to elect Kahana as speaker of parliament, a step that would require backing from Arab-Israeli members whose representation has reached a record level after dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's far-right government.

A central element of Eisenkot's campaign is renewed pressure for an independent commission to investigate the 7 October 2023 attacks. Netanyahu has opposed such a commission for years and has argued that any inquiry should be carried out by a politically chosen group. The dispute remains politically sensitive because the attack, carried out by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, killed about 1,200 people and led to roughly 250 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities.

It also triggered the war in Gaza, which continues to shape Israeli politics and public debate. The issue matters now because the first session of a new parliament often sets the tone for coalition talks, leadership contests and the balance of power inside the legislature. In this case, the inquiry dispute is tied directly to the question of accountability for one of the most damaging security failures in Israel's recent history.

It also intersects with the struggle to assemble a governing majority, making the debate over the investigation part of a wider contest over who will lead the country next. The supporting material says Eisenkot's camp includes parties from different political backgrounds, and that Avigdor Liberman is among the figures aligned with the bloc. Liberman, who was once an ally of Netanyahu, has become one of the prime minister's sharpest critics.

At the same time, his refusal to join any government that depends on Arab-Israeli support highlights the fragility of the coalition arithmetic now unfolding in parliament. What remains unclear is whether Eisenkot's proposals will translate into durable parliamentary gains or whether the deadlock will continue. It is also not yet clear whether the push for an independent inquiry will gain enough support to overcome Netanyahu's resistance.

The next key developments to watch are the speaker vote, further coalition negotiations and whether the new parliament can move beyond confrontation toward a workable majority.

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