In a recent interview with Time magazine, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his regret over the October 7 attack by Hamas but did not take explicit responsibility for the security lapses that allowed the assault to occur.
During the interview, Netanyahu was asked if he would apologize for the attack, which has been described as the deadliest in Israel’s history. He responded, “Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, ‘Could we have done things that would have prevented it?'” Despite this expression of regret, Netanyahu did not offer a formal apology.
Netanyahu, who has served as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has been criticized for initially posting on social media that the attack was a failure of Israeli intelligence services to anticipate and warn him. Following backlash and accusations of deflecting blame, he deleted the post and apologized for it.
When questioned about what he would say to a political rival overseeing such a significant security failure, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of leadership in ensuring a favorable post-war outcome. “Can they assure that the postwar situation will be one of peace and security? If the answer is yes, they should stay in power,” he stated.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, and the seizure of 251 hostages. As of now, 111 hostages remain in Gaza, with 39 confirmed dead according to the Israeli military. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 39,677 individuals, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, though details on the casualties’ civilian or militant status have not been disclosed.
Sources By Agencies
