At a follow-up hearing held by the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the three-year anniversary of the October 7 massacre was marked with a focus on the legal preparations for prosecuting Nukhba terrorists. Committee Chair, MK Simcha Rothman, set a clear target for the first indictment against the terrorists to be filed during the first half of 2027. The discussion focused on the operational progress of transferring investigative and prosecutorial authority from the State Attorney’s Office to the military system, in accordance with the law passed in May 2026.
During the session, Chief Military Prosecutor, Col. Eli Labartov, clarified that the head of the military prosecution unit designated for these cases is expected to be selected within the next two weeks. The military apparatus is in advanced stages of organization, including the recruitment of staff and the establishment of technological infrastructure for managing the trials. The IDF presented logistical efforts, including the establishment of a support system for crime victims, the development of digital broadcasting systems, and the creation of a media war room, to ensure accessibility and transparency of the legal proceedings for the public and victims.
Southern District Prosecutor Erez Padan detailed the work of the State Attorney’s Office, which included drafting complex opinions on hundreds of terrorists while cross-referencing evidence from various crime scenes. According to him, the State Attorney's Office is transferring investigative materials to the military in an advanced state to enable workflow continuity and prevent delays. The prosecutor emphasized the ethical importance of documenting the story of every victim and fallen soldier within the indictments.
Alongside this, technical and evidentiary difficulties stemming from the nature of the massacre sites were raised, as the military works to locate additional materials that may not have been collected during the initial police investigation. MK Yulia Malinovsky, one of the law's sponsors, praised the work of the Southern District prosecutors throughout this complex period. This is an unprecedented legal process in which trials will be managed by specific geographic zones, such as Nir Oz, Be'eri, and the Nova party, under a special military court to be established in Jerusalem.
The summary of the hearing highlighted the need for synergy between the various bodies. MK Rothman emphasized that upon the appointment of the head of the prosecution unit, a binding schedule will be defined for meeting the indictment targets, noting that the goal serves as a basis for accelerated work by all relevant parties.