Violence at Knesset as guards block families of Oct. 7 victims from guest gallery

By Sam Sokol 3 March 2025, 4:46 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Knesset guards prevent families of October 7 victims and of hostages from ascending to the Knesset visitors’ gallery, in Jerusalem, March 3, 2025. (Video screenshot/October Council)

Members of the October Council — which represents October 7 survivors, former hostages and victims’ families — are blocked by Knesset guards from entering the plenum guest gallery.

The incident devolves into a shoving match, with guards pushing and grabbing at protesters at the base of a stairwell leading to the observer’s gallery.

The father of Yarden Buskila, who was murdered on October 7 at the Nova festival, fainted during the clash and required medical attention, Channel 12 reports.

In a statement, the group, which represents 1,500 bereaved families and families of hostages, calls on Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to intervene “immediately.”

The Knesset is about to hold a special plenum session during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will respond to lawmakers’ demands for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 catastrophe, a demand backed by the October Council.

The families earlier held a press conference at the Knesset calling for the establishment of a state inquiry. They had reportedly told Knesset officials ahead of time that 40 people would want to enter the plenum gallery for the debate.

In a statement, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says he approached Ohana at the plenum rostrum and demanded the families be allowed in. He says Ohana replied: “I’m checking.”