Hamas raided their homes and they want a fresh start — Netanyahu may not factor in

On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters attacked two communities near Gaza. In Be’eri, they killed civilians and security personnel, abducted residents and destroyed about a third of the homes. In Sderot, fighters seized the police station during fierce gun battles, and 53 people died. The attack reshaped daily life and political debate in both places.

Be’eri residents are divided from Sderot residents over Israel’s direction. Many Be’eri survivors moved politically to the right on security issues, rejecting the left and a two-state solution. Yet some also blame Benjamin Netanyahu for security failures and want him replaced. In Sderot, many residents still strongly support him.

The debate concerns accountability, security and Israel’s future. Be’eri is rebuilding homes and planning a return for younger families. Survivors there support an independent inquiry, while Netanyahu has rejected one proposed by opposition parties. Sderot residents praise his wartime leadership, hostage policy and diplomacy.

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political and armed movement that has controlled Gaza and has fought Israel. The article focuses on its armed fighters, who launched the October 7, 2023 attack. Their actions became the central reason survivors are debating Israel’s security, leadership and future.

The Israel Defense Forces estimates that 340 Hamas militants infiltrated Be’eri. They killed 101 civilians and 31 Israeli security personnel, while abducting 32 people and taking them into Gaza as hostages. Hamas fighters also seized Sderot’s police station during fierce battles. These attacks caused deaths, displacement and extensive property damage.

The conflict continued after October 7. Israel’s subsequent war on Gaza killed more than 74,000 people and wounded 175,000, according to Gaza’s local health ministry, as reported in the article. The continuing war shapes political views: some survivors demand accountability, while others credit Netanyahu with strong military leadership.

Be’eri suffered a devastating human and physical toll during the October 7 attack. The article reports that 101 civilians were killed, representing about 10 per cent of the population. It also records the deaths of 31 Israeli security personnel. These figures show that the attack struck both residents and those defending the community.

Another 32 people were abducted and taken into Gaza as hostages. Adding the civilian and security deaths gives 132 people killed in Be’eri. Around a third of the kibbutz’s homes were destroyed, leaving many families unable to return immediately. Galit Carbone’s home remains empty after she was killed in the attack.

Rebuilding is now central to Be’eri’s future. New homes are being constructed away from the worst-hit areas, and one damaged property will remain for a planned October 7 museum. Younger families are expected to return next year, while residents say rebuilding the community denies Hamas a victory.

October 7 changed many survivors’ political thinking, especially on security and relations with Palestinians. Danny Majzner says the attack convinced many Be’eri residents that Labor and other left-wing parties were not the answer. He says 99 per cent would now reject a two-state solution, although he personally supported it ten years earlier.

This rightward shift does not automatically translate into support for Benjamin Netanyahu. Majzner plans to vote for a more conservative party in the Change bloc. He wants a government that is tougher on security but also accepts responsibility for the failures that preceded the attack. He compares the situation with what would happen in another Western country after such a catastrophe.

The result is a political split within Israel’s border communities. Be’eri residents demand an independent inquiry and leadership change. Sderot residents remain strongly pro-Netanyahu, praising his military, political and diplomatic handling of the war. Israel’s future depends partly on how these competing views develop.

Political conservatism and support for a particular leader are separate choices. Some Be’eri survivors now distrust Labor and other left-wing parties because the October 7 attack changed their views on security. They also reject a two-state solution in much larger numbers than before. But that shift has not erased their anger at the government’s failures.

Danny Majzner illustrates the distinction. He says he will vote for one of the more conservative parties in the Change bloc, rather than backing Netanyahu. He wants Israel to respond firmly to security threats while holding its leaders accountable for failing to prevent the attack that killed his sister.

This creates an unusual political position: farther right on national security, but opposed to the sitting prime minister. Be’eri residents support an independent inquiry for the country’s sake. Meanwhile, Sderot residents remain loyal to Netanyahu and praise his conduct of the war, hostage negotiations and international diplomacy.

An independent inquiry is a formal investigation conducted separately from the government or institutions whose decisions may be examined. Its purpose is to establish what happened, identify failures and recommend changes. Independence matters because survivors want credible answers rather than an internal review shaped by political interests.

In this case, the proposed inquiry would examine the security failures that allowed the October 7 attack to happen and the government’s responsibility for those failures. The article does not specify every decision it would review. It says survivors support an inquiry for the country, society and people, not only for bereaved families. Netanyahu has rejected the opposition parties’ proposal.

Such an inquiry could affect public trust and political accountability. It might clarify whether warnings, defenses, command decisions or government policies failed, but those specific areas are not listed in the article. Its findings could influence future security reforms and judgments about Netanyahu’s leadership.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy. Voters elect the Knesset, and the prime minister leads a government formed from parties that can command a parliamentary majority. The prime minister therefore remains in office while the governing coalition survives and can pass legislation or retain confidence. A security disaster alone does not automatically end the government.

If parliamentarians or coalition partners withdraw support, the government can face a confidence process. A prime minister may also resign, lose party backing or be replaced through political negotiations. If no stable government can be formed, Israel may hold new elections. These are the main mechanisms, rather than an automatic dismissal after a national failure.

The article shows the political pressure surrounding this question. Be’eri survivors want Netanyahu replaced and support an independent inquiry into security failures. Sderot residents still back him. The article does not state that Netanyahu has lost parliamentary support or describe any pending confidence vote, so his political future remains unresolved in the account.