Israeli opposition lawmaker Gilad Kariv called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s removal as attacks continued in Gaza. Kariv, a member of the Democrats Party, said such a step was an “existential necessity” for Israeli society.
Kariv published his statement on X, the US-based social media platform. He argued that Netanyahu was ignoring the Israeli military’s investigations into the events of October 7, 2023, and said the prime minister had avoided visiting the kibbutzim around Gaza for months after the events.
Kariv accused Netanyahu of repeatedly “abandoning” Israel’s security and said the prime minister had demonstrated “complete incompetence” in managing national security. “A person like this must not be allowed to make decisions about our future and the future of our children,” Kariv said.
Call for a commission to investigate October 7
Opposition parties and broad sections of Israeli society are calling for a state commission to investigate the failures linked to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. The Netanyahu government rejects the state commission mechanism and instead supports the option of a politically appointed panel.
Israel’s parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place on October 27. Netanyahu and the Likud Party have lost ground in opinion polls.
While Netanyahu’s trial on corruption charges continues, he is wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. More than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, while attacks have continued despite a US-backed ceasefire.
