Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed regret over the 2023 Hamas attack that left 1,200 people dead, raising concerns about a broader threat from Iran and its regional allies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his remorse for the deadly Hamas terrorist attack that occurred during his tenure, acknowledging that he deeply regrets the loss of life. In an interview with Time Magazine, Netanyahu said, "Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened."
The attack, which occurred on October 7, 2023, left 1,200 people dead and hundreds more taken hostage in Gaza. It marked the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust and left Israel facing significant challenges both domestically and internationally.
Netanyahu Apologizes for Hamas Attack, Warns of 'Full-Fledged Iranian Axis'
Netanyahu also warned that Israel now faces a broader threat from Iran and its regional allies, which he referred to as a "full-fledged Iranian axis." He said that this threat includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and the potential for aerial assaults from Iran itself.
"We're facing not merely Hamas," Netanyahu told Time. "We're facing a full-fledged Iranian axis, and we understand that we have to organize ourselves for broader defense."
Netanyahu Apologizes for Hamas Attack, Warns of 'Full-Fledged Iranian Axis'
The Biden administration has reportedly grown frustrated with Netanyahu's failure to deliver a plan to end the war and secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas. A July poll by Israel's most watched television station found that 72% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign either now or after the conflict ends.
Critics, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political gain. Barak told Time, "Netanyahu is focused on his longevity in power more than the interests of the Israeli people or the State of Israel."
Netanyahu Apologizes for Hamas Attack, Warns of 'Full-Fledged Iranian Axis'
Netanyahu has argued that Israel must demolish every element of Iran's "axis of resistance" in the region to ensure that Israel is never subjected to future massacres and that Hamas can no longer lay claim to Palestinian territories.
"Being destroyed has bigger implications about Israel's security," Netanyahu told Time, describing the war as existential. "I'd rather have bad press than a good obituary."
Netanyahu Apologizes for Hamas Attack, Warns of 'Full-Fledged Iranian Axis'
Netanyahu has faced criticism for his government's handling of the war, including allegations of collective punishment of civilians. He has also drawn fire for reforms that have curbed the powers of the judiciary, prompting large-scale protests.
"You are weakening us, and our enemy is going to see it, and we're going to pay the price," former Minister of Defense Benny Gantz cautioned Netanyahu at the time.
Netanyahu has placed blame on the protesters, many of whom said they would not serve in the Israeli military if the country's democratic institutions were weakened. "The refusal to serve because of an internal political debate – I think that, if anything, that had an effect," Netanyahu told Time.
Netanyahu said his biggest mistake was not going to war with Hamas sooner, listening to his security cabinet, which opposed such a move. He acknowledged that Israel's strategy of periodically striking back at Hamas and damaging their infrastructure had been ineffective in stopping their attacks.
"There was no domestic support for such an action," Netanyahu told Time regarding a plan to end the Hamas terror organization that would have resulted in significant casualties. "There was certainly no international support for such an action – and you need both."
