Two years and eight months after the October 7 massacre, Israel’s Southern Command conducted drills today (Wednesday) simulating a large-scale surprise attack on communities near the Gaza border and across the southern region.
The exercise, code-named “Coat of Many Colors,” is being held under the operational framework “Samson’s Thunder.” Forces are running through a series of extreme scenarios similar to the massacre, testing operational readiness and response times of troops in the field.
The drill comes a day after the Knesset Constitution Committee approved for a first reading a bill to establish a state-national commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre. The bill’s explanatory notes emphasize that its purpose is to conduct a “full, thorough, and independent” investigation, while addressing public controversy over who will appoint the commission’s members.
Under the proposed law, the Knesset speaker would submit a proposal for the commission’s composition within 14 days of the law’s publication, after consulting as much as possible with coalition and opposition representatives. Approval of the composition would require a majority of 80 Knesset members. If no agreement is reached, the appointment authority would pass to the Knesset Committee chairman and the opposition leader, with each appointing three members to the commission.