‘Look me in the eyes’ — ‘I don’t want to’: Top coalition MK clashes with bereaved families

MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism entered into a confrontation earlier with bereaved families at the Knesset Finance Committee, which he chairs.

Families were demanding the formation of a state commission of inquiry to probe the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, attack. The government has so far refused to establish such a commission.

At one point, Gafni, apparently confusing the families with those of hostages, said: “If there is one thing that is not up for discussion at all for me, it is the return of the hostages. This is a matter of absolute pikuah nefesh (preservation of life). There was never any debate [for me] about this.”

Eyal Eshel, the father of a young surveillance soldier killed during the October 7 attack, was taken aback. “MK Gafni, we are bereaved parents. Good morning to you. What hostages are you talking about?” he said, raising his voice. “Do you see anyone here who is a hostage? The entire country is being held hostage. MK Gafni, we are bereaved families!”

“Alright,” Gafni said tersely.

“Alright? What’s alright?” Eshel demanded. “We’re at nearly 500 days into this Israeli Holocaust.”

לא ברור כלל למה @ESHEL2003 דורש וועדת חקירה ממלכתית כאשר לכולם ברור מה תיהיינה תוצאותיה מראש?

— ???????????????? Yogev Koren ???????????????? (@Koren_Yogev) February 12, 2025

“MK Gafni, I want to enlist your support for our one and only request, which is so basic: the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. So that we can understand what happened here, what the failures were. Look me in the eyes for a moment.”

To this, Gafni, who was looking down, responded: “I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to look me in the eyes?” Eshel asked. “Why? Why? Even now [you’re exhibiting] such scorn?”