Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly apologized for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7. In a rare admission of fault, Netanyahu expressed deep regret during a Time magazine interview, acknowledging the security lapses and their severe consequences. This apology marks a significant departure from his previous position, where he had not acknowledged any errors.

Netanyahu also chose not to comment on speculation regarding the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, maintaining a stance of non-disclosure about Israel’s involvement or connections. He emphasized that Israel’s response is not aimed at escalating tensions with Iran but at demonstrating that it will not be a scapegoat for Iranian actions.

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The ongoing conflict has led to substantial casualties, with nearly 40,000 Palestinians reported dead and around 80,000 injured, many of whom are women and children. Netanyahu’s earlier attempt to attribute the failure to intelligence agencies faced criticism, leading him to retract his statements and avoid further complicating relations between the government and military.