The High Court of Justice on Wednesday issued a preliminary order against the government, instructing it to justify its reasons for not establishing a state commission of inquiry into the events surrounding the catastrophic Hamas invasion and massacres in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The court demanded to know why the government is not exercising its authority to establish such a commission, which could “examine in an independent, professional, and impartial manner” the events surrounding the October 7 attacks.

Preliminary orders switch the burden of proof from the petitioner, in this case several liberal watchdog groups, to the respondent — the government — and indicate that the court is taking the petitions very seriously.

The government has until January 4 to respond.

The government announced earlier this week that it intends to create a government-backed commission, and formed a ministerial panel to select the topics and timeframes it believes should be probed.

Despite being touted as an “independent” investigation, the government commission’s mandate will be determined by a group of cabinet ministers, led by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

Aside from Ze’ev Elkin, a minister in the Finance Ministry, all........

© The Times of Israel