Criminal10/7/2026

Hundreds of Suspects in the October 7 Massacre Case Have Yet to Be Interrogated

During a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, it emerged that some Gaza residents being held in Israel on suspicion of involvement in the October 7 massacre have yet to undergo the interrogation necessary for their cases to be brought before the court. Neither the exact number of these suspects nor the reasons for the delay were disclosed during the public session.

Key facts

•Meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee
•The publication was updated on 07.10.2026
•It was proposed that the first indictment be filed by the end of June 2027
•The special military court will be located in Jerusalem
•The Israel Prison Service requires 340 positions
•The provisions of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Law, the Penal Law, and the Counter-Terrorism Law will apply

What Emerged During the Meeting

Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman said that hundreds of people previously linked to the events of October 7 were involved. The police representative, Lt. Col. Adna Tana of the Lahav 433 unit, confirmed that some of them have yet to be interrogated. After the recess, explanations were presented to the committee behind closed doors, and their contents were not made public.

Who Will Conduct the Prosecution

The law passed in May transferred responsibility for the criminal prosecution from the civilian State Attorney’s Office to the military. The suspects are expected to be tried before a special military court in Jerusalem, authorized to adjudicate offenses under any applicable law, including the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Law, the Penal Law, and the Counter-Terrorism Law. Chief Military Prosecutor Col. Eli Levertov announced an upcoming meeting with the commander of Lahav 433 to expedite the completion of the investigations.

Preparing the Evidence and Indictments

According to Southern District Attorney Erez Padan, the State Attorney’s Office prepared hundreds of detailed legal opinions, many of which were accompanied by draft indictments. The suspects’ details are matched with materials from the crime scenes, video recordings, and statements by other people who were interrogated. These documents are already available to the Military Prosecution, but they are not binding on it; it will decide independently whether to use them.

When the Trials May Begin

Rothman called for setting a target of filing the first indictment in the first half of 2027, but no binding date has yet been set. Land has been allocated for the special court, and final approval to begin construction is scheduled to be issued in January 2027. At the same time, systems are being prepared for broadcasting the trials and supporting victims; for the purposes of the Israel Prison Service, including securing the complex, a need for 340 positions has been identified.

What this means for you

For the victims and their family members, this means that the cases are planned to be heard before a special military court and that the state is establishing separate mechanisms for assistance and for facilitating access to the proceedings. However, the investigation has not yet been completed, the first indictment has not yet been filed, and the date mentioned in the first half of 2027 remains, at this stage, a proposed target rather than an approved date.

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