Criminal10/17/2026

Ben-Gvir Demands Additional 900 Million Shekels for Trials Over the October 7 Massacre

Israel's Ministry of National Security and Prison Service have not yet begun preparations for the trials of those accused of participating in the October 7 massacre. According to Haaretz, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is demanding an additional 900 million shekels, and the trials themselves may not begin until the first quarter of 2028.

Key facts

•Publication date: October 17, 2026
•Expected start of trials: Not before the first quarter of 2028
•Approved budget: More than one billion shekels over three years
•Additional amount requested: 900 million shekels
•Proposed deduction from other budgets: 180 million shekels

Preparations Have Not Yet Begun

The Prison Service and the Ministry of National Security are expected to facilitate the future trials, but according to the report, practical preparations have not yet begun. Senior Prison Service officials believe that, because of the delay, it will not be possible to begin hearings before the first quarter of 2028, at the earliest.

Law Enacted and Budget Approved

In May, the Knesset enacted, without opposition, a law for the trial of the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre. Immediately afterward, the government approved more than one billion shekels over three years to implement the law. The name of the law was not stated in the original publication.

Ben-Gvir's Additional Demands

According to Haaretz, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir is demanding an additional allocation of 900 million shekels to organize the trials. To finance these expenses, he proposes deducting 180 million shekels from the budgets of other government ministries, including the ministries of education, environmental protection, and welfare.

Decision Not Yet Described

The article reports the minister's budget request but does not state whether it has been approved by the government or another authorized body. The source also contains no information about indictments filed, specific defendants, or dates set for hearings.

What this means for you

The report indicates that even after the enactment of a special law and the allocation of funds, preparations for large-scale criminal trials may take years. For Israel's residents, this means a possible delay in judicial resolution and the potential diversion of state funds from education, environmental protection, and welfare if the proposal is approved.

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