WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview published on Thursday that he was “sad” that Hamas was able to carry out its October 7 attack, without explicitly claiming responsibility.
Netanyahu, who has resisted apologizing for security failures in the wake of Israel's worst-ever attack and focused on destroying Hamas, was asked if he would apologize during an interview with Time magazine.
“Apologize?” he was quoted as replying.
“Of course, of course. I'm deeply sorry that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, 'Could we have done things that would have prevented it?'” he said.
The right-wing leader is Israel's longest-serving prime minister and has long cast himself as a staunch protector of Israel's security.
Shortly after the October 7 attack, Netanyahu wrote on social media that the intelligence services had not anticipated the Hamas operation and warned him.
He removed and apologized for that post after many Israelis accused him of deflecting blame and endangering national unity.
In the interview, Time asked Netanyahu what his message would be to a political rival presiding over the country's worst security failure.
Netanyahu replied that it depended on whether the leader could lead Israel “to victory”.
“Can they assure that the post-war situation will be characterized by peace and security? If the answer is yes, they should stay in power.”
On October 7, Hamas carried out the deadliest attack in Israel's history. A total of 1,198 people died, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report based on Israeli official figures.
Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, of whom 111 are still being held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel's military retaliation campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry, which did not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.
