Article Title: Netanyahu Faces Criticism for Attempting to Blame Security Chiefs for Hamas Attack
Article Summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced sharp criticism after he claimed that security chiefs did not warn him about an impending Hamas attack. In a late-night tweet, Netanyahu blamed security officials for the disaster and evaded responsibility. He later deleted the tweet and issued a rare apology. The original tweet stated that Netanyahu was never warned about Hamas’s war intentions and that security officials consistently assured him that Hamas was deterred. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz had previously mentioned a warning about Hamas plans for an attack, which Netanyahu dismissed as inaccurate. The prime minister’s attempt to shift blame onto security officials received backlash from within his emergency government. Defense Minister Gantz demanded a retraction of Netanyahu’s statement, emphasizing the need for responsible leadership during war. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also criticized Netanyahu and called for an apology. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen highlighted the importance of taking responsibility at the start of one’s job, not midway. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized Netanyahu’s containment policy and called for accountability after the war. Netanyahu’s tweet came shortly after a press conference where he refused to directly take responsibility for the Hamas attack and dismissed the idea of setting up a state commission of inquiry. The intelligence and operational failures that enabled the attack have raised questions about governmental responsibility. On October 7, Hamas terrorists crossed the border, killing over 1,400 people and abducting over 230 individuals, including civilians.
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