Why some October 7 survivors want Netanyahu gone — and others don't

The October 7, 2023 attacks brought different but devastating experiences to two Israeli communities near Gaza. Be’eri suffered a large-scale assault inside the kibbutz. Sderot became the scene of fierce street fighting and prolonged rocket attacks. Their experiences still shape how residents view Israel’s future and its leadership.

In Be’eri, the Israel Defense Forces estimates that 340 Hamas militants entered. They killed 101 civilians and 31 Israeli security personnel, abducted 32 people, and destroyed about one-third of the homes. In Sderot, Hamas fighters took control of the police station, and 53 people lost their lives. The city then faced constant rocket fire for months.

Both communities are rebuilding, but their political responses differ sharply. Many Be’eri residents want an independent inquiry and Netanyahu removed. Sderot residents largely continue supporting him, praising his conduct during the war, hostage negotiations, and diplomacy. The divide shows that shared trauma has not produced one political conclusion.

A kibbutz is a cooperative community in Israel, traditionally organized around shared property, work, and collective services. Be’eri and other kibbutzim are important here because they are residential communities located near Gaza. Their proximity exposed residents to the October 7 attack, while their return has become part of the country’s recovery.

Be’eri suffered major losses. The Israel Defense Forces estimates that 340 Hamas militants entered, killing 101 civilians and 31 Israeli security personnel. About one-third of its homes were destroyed. Danny Majzner returned early, and chairman Gal Cohen is overseeing construction. New homes are being built away from the areas where the attacks mostly occurred.

The community’s rebuilding carries both practical and symbolic meaning. Majzner says returning and rebuilding would show that Hamas had not won. One damaged property will remain for a future October 7 museum. Younger families with children are expected to return next year, giving the kibbutz a future beyond remembrance.

The attack caused an extraordinary human and physical toll in Be’eri. The figures show why the community remains central to the national debate. They also explain why residents connect rebuilding with accountability for the security failures that allowed the assault to happen.

The Israel Defense Forces estimates that 340 Hamas militants infiltrated Be’eri. They killed 101 civilians, about 10 percent of the population, and 31 Israeli security personnel. Another 32 people were abducted and taken to Gaza as hostages. Around one-third of the kibbutz’s homes were destroyed. The article does not provide a number for residents displaced after the attack.

Residents are now returning in stages. Danny Majzner was among the first to return, while younger families with children are expected to come back next year. Construction is underway, including new homes away from the main attack areas. One damaged property will be preserved for a future October 7 museum.

Support for Netanyahu or opposition to him reflects different judgments about responsibility and leadership after October 7. Many Be’eri residents focus on the failures that preceded the attack and believe the prime minister should face accountability. Many Sderot residents focus on the war’s conduct and see Netanyahu as the strongest available leader.

Danny Majzner says Be’eri residents have moved rightward on security but still want Netanyahu removed. He supports a conservative party in the Change bloc and backs an independent inquiry. In Sderot, Danny Eqdahim calls himself a “Bibist,” while Shulamit praises Netanyahu’s wisdom and intelligence. Zion Cohen credits him with military, political, and diplomatic leadership.

The divide is therefore not simply left versus right. Be’eri residents may reject a two-state solution yet oppose Netanyahu personally. Sderot residents support him despite the attack and its consequences. Their priorities could influence the next political contest and the debate over who should lead Israel afterward.

The attack changed political attitudes in Be’eri, especially on security and relations with Palestinians. Many residents now believe Israel’s Labor and left parties cannot protect the country. Yet moving rightward on security has not created automatic support for Netanyahu, because residents also blame the government for failing to prevent the attack.

Danny Majzner says 99 percent of people on the kibbutz would reject a two-state solution today. He says he once supported that idea. He also says the atrocities gave residents a “huge slap” and made them reassess the left. At the same time, he plans to vote for a conservative party in the Change bloc, not necessarily for Netanyahu.

This combination produces a complicated political landscape. Some survivors want stronger security policies and reject a two-state solution, while demanding a new government and independent inquiry. Sderot offers a contrasting reality, with residents remaining firmly loyal to Netanyahu. The post-October 7 debate therefore crosses traditional left-right boundaries.

An independent inquiry is a formal investigation designed to examine a major failure without being controlled by the officials whose decisions may be questioned. Its purpose is to establish facts, identify responsibility, and recommend changes. After October 7, survivors see such an inquiry as necessary for the country, not only for bereaved families.

The inquiry would be expected to examine the security failures surrounding the attack. These include how Hamas militants infiltrated Be’eri, why 340 attackers were able to enter according to the Israel Defense Forces estimate, and how the assault led to the deaths of 101 civilians and 31 security personnel. It could also examine the abduction of 32 people and the destruction of homes.

Opposition parties have promised an independent inquiry, but Netanyahu has rejected that proposal. Be’eri residents strongly support it and say the process must serve Israeli society. Its findings could determine responsibility, shape reforms, and influence whether Netanyahu remains politically trusted after the attack.

In a parliamentary system, the prime minister governs through a cabinet that must retain political support in parliament. That structure is meant to connect executive power with elected representatives. After a major security failure, lawmakers can demand explanations, investigate decisions, challenge the government, and press for leadership change.

The article shows two accountability routes. Opposition parties have promised an independent inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7, although Netanyahu has rejected it. Voters can also express judgment through elections. Danny Majzner plans to support a conservative party in the Change bloc because he wants accountability, rather than continuing with Netanyahu.

In practice, accountability depends on political pressure and whether governing partners continue supporting the prime minister. Sderot residents still back Netanyahu, praising his military, political, and diplomatic leadership. Be’eri residents want him removed. That split may affect parliamentary support, future elections, and whether an inquiry eventually takes place.