Comptroller says he’ll obey court freeze of his Oct. 7 probe, but insists his work ‘objective’

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman says his office will abide by a High Court of Justice order to freeze his inquiry into core aspects of the failures surrounding the events of the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion and atrocities, and refrain from publishing his findings.

He insists, however, that despite allegations in petitions against his probe, the work being done by his office is “independent and objective,” and said his office was a key institution for reviewing the functioning of the government and its agencies.

“The state comptroller is at present the only state agency that has worked to bring the truth to light and provide answers to Israeli citizens about the October 7 failure. Without the public release of the reports, failings will not be corrected – including failings that, if corrected, could save lives,” he adds.

Petitioners against the state comptroller’s inquiry have argued that his methods are flawed and in particular he has failed to interview key subjects of his probe, harming their rights. They have also argued that investigating a catastrophe such as the October 7 attacks, the worse invasion ever suffered by the State of Israel, is beyond the scope of the comptroller’s duties, and will harm and taint any future, independent investigation.