Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist – Diplomat – Advisor - Consultant,Founding Chair, Global Silk Route research Alliance.(E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).
Three years after the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, Israel continues to face difficult questions about intelligence failures, political responsibility and the devastating consequences of its military campaign in Gaza. Recent revelations by former Israeli military secretary Maj. Gen. (res.) Avi Gil have renewed demands for a credible investigation into what the government knew, when it knew it, and whether the public has been given a complete account.
These questions are not merely an internal Israeli political dispute. They concern the lives of thousands of civilians, the credibility of government institutions and the international community’s commitment to justice.
The Questions Netanyahu Must Answer
Gil, who served as Benjamin Netanyahu’s military secretary during the October 7 attack, has challenged the prime minister’s account of the events. He has alleged that Netanyahu’s 55-page submission to the state comptroller presents only part of the truth and warned that official records may have been altered. Israeli police have investigated allegations concerning attempts to change records of cabinet meetings and telephone conversations, including actions allegedly involving senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office. These allegations require independent examination; they should not be treated as established findings of guilt.
Questions about advance warnings are equally serious. Recent reporting has revived allegations that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel warned Israeli officials before the attack that Hamas was preparing a major operation. Reports differ over what was communicated, who received the warnings and whether the information was sufficiently specific to prevent the assault. Netanyahu has denied receiving some of the reported warnings.
The distinction matters. Evidence of warnings, intelligence failures or efforts to reshape official records would warrant serious accountability. However, these reports do not, by themselves, establish that Netanyahu deliberately organized or engineered the October 7 attack as a false-flag operation. That claim requires independently verified evidence. The proper response is neither unquestioning acceptance of the government’s account nor replacing suspicion with proof, but a genuinely independent investigation with access to relevant records and witnesses.
Gaza’s Civilians Must Not Pay the Price
Whatever the eventual findings about Israel’s political and security failures, the consequences for Palestinians have been catastrophic. Gaza has endured mass displacement, extensive destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, and profound humanitarian suffering. Palestinian civilians must not be collectively punished for Hamas’s actions.
The October 7 attack killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to Israeli figures. The killing and abduction of civilians were grave crimes. Recognizing these crimes, however, does not absolve Israeli authorities of their obligations under international humanitarian law. Nor does it diminish Palestinians’ rights to life, dignity, freedom and self-determination.
The international community must insist that alleged violations by every party be investigated impartially. Civilian protection cannot depend on nationality, religion or political affiliation. A government’s security concerns cannot justify indiscriminate violence, forced displacement or the denial of essential humanitarian assistance.
Political Divisions and the Need for Accountability
Recent divisions within Israel’s right-wing coalition further demonstrate the importance of transparent political institutions. Reports that Netanyahu’s Likud party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party excluded National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s party from an election mobilization conference point to tensions over coalition strategy and the composition of a future government.
Meanwhile, Gil’s allegations have intensified demands for a state commission of inquiry. Netanyahu’s party has dismissed his statements as political propaganda, while supporters of an investigation argue that the public deserves a complete and credible account.
Political disagreement cannot substitute for institutional accountability. The victims of October 7, their families and the Palestinian population affected by the war all deserve truth, justice and meaningful protection.
Justice Is the Only Sustainable Way Forward
The international community should press for an independent investigation into the October 7 security failures, transparent preservation of official records, accountability for any proven misconduct, protection of civilians and unrestricted humanitarian relief. Allegations of deliberate orchestration must be investigated if credible evidence emerges, rather than declared facts before they are established.
Ultimately, neither Israeli security nor Palestinian freedom can be achieved through perpetual violence and impunity. A just and lasting settlement must recognize Palestinians’ right to self-determination, end unlawful occupation and provide security and equal human dignity for both peoples.
The central question is no longer whether difficult questions should be asked. It is whether political leaders will permit those questions to be answered honestly. Truth cannot restore the lives already lost, but without truth, accountability, and justice, the cycle of suffering will continue.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY）