Oct. 7 families file criminal complaint against Netanyahu

Families bereaved in the October 7 massacre have filed a criminal complaint against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the attorney general and the head of the police investigations and intelligence division. According to a summary of the complaint, the families are asking authorities to investigate suspicions of criminal offenses relating to the presentation of false information to the public, the handling of warnings before the war, and the prime minister's conduct on the issue of funds transferred to the Gaza Strip.

The complaint is based in part on investigative reports by journalist Ronen Bergman in Yediot Acharonot, an interview with Major General (res.) Avi Gil on Channel 12 News, and a defamation lawsuit filed by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar against Netanyahu.

The complainants also refer to a 55-page document Netanyahu submitted to the state comptroller in December 2025, in which he presented his version of the events of October 7 and the issues examined as part of the state audit.

According to the families, the document submitted to the comptroller is false and distorted, intended to mislead the public and the investigating authorities.

Among other things, the complaint alleges that Netanyahu misrepresented the positions of the security establishment regarding Hamas, and that he accused the heads of the security establishment of advocating a policy of containing the organization.

The October 7 Simchat Torah massacre on Gaza border communities, AI-generated image (Photo: 'Remember' Project, Rosenbaum Communications Group)

The complainants also address Netanyahu's claims regarding Hamas's raid plan, "Jericho Wall." According to them, contrary to his statements, details of the plan were presented to the prime minister over the years, including a plan for a large-scale raid by thousands of terrorists.

Another issue appearing in the complaint concerns security warnings received before the massacre. According to the document, the investigators believe that Netanyahu rejected proposals to carry out targeted thwarting operations in Gaza, and did not approve measures presented to him, despite warnings of the danger.

In addition, the complaint alleges that Netanyahu presented misleading information regarding aid funds transferred to the Gaza Strip. The complainants refer to the issue of Qatari funds and claim that the prime minister was aware of their transfer and the possible implications of the move.

The document’s final section argues that if false information was knowingly presented, this could raise suspicions of aggravated fraud against both the state comptroller and the public, as well as fraud and breach of trust.

The families are asking to examine the possibility that Netanyahu concealed security information and warnings that reached him in the period leading up to October 7, including on the issue of transferring aid funds to the Gaza Strip.