Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu blamed his country’s intelligence and security services for this. for an attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, a report he later retracted and apologized amid a wave of criticism from political leaders.

In a message published over the past few hours on the social network X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said that He never received any warning about Hamas’ “military intentions.” and that “all the security services, including the head of military intelligence and the head of the Shin Bet, were of the opinion that Hamas had become disheartened and wanted to reach an agreement.”

This message was later deleted and replaced by one in which he apologizes.

“I was wrong (…) and I apologize for that. I fully support all heads of law enforcement agencies. “I stand with the Chief of Staff and the commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who are on the front lines,” Netanyahu wrote.

This message was published after rain of criticism from opposition leaders and even members of the government coalition.

“Netanyahu has crossed a red line. As Israeli security forces soldiers and commanders bravely fight Hamas and Hezbollah, “He tries to blame them instead of supporting them” Yair Lapid, former Israeli prime minister and opposition leader, wrote in X.

In addition, he republished a message dated September 20 – before the Hamas attack on October 7 – in which warned of possible escalation on several fronts according to the intelligence information he received.

“The intelligence I relied on was also shared with Netanyahu,” he said. Lapid emphasized, assessing that “attempts to evade responsibility and blame the security agencies weaken Israeli forces in the fight against enemies.”

On your side, Benny Ganz the former defense minister and opposition leader, who decided to form an emergency government with Netanyahu to become part of the military cabinet, also criticized the president, which he asked to “renounce.”

“Leaders must be responsible decide to do the right thing and strengthen the forces in every possible way so that they do what we ask of them,” he wrote in X.

Criticism even came from the Secretary of Homeland SecurityItamar Ben Gvirwhose anti-Arab ultranationalist party played a decisive role in Netanyahu’s return to power.

According to Ben Gvir, the debate over responsibility for the attack “It’s not now, “There will be plenty of time for accountability later.”

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At a press conference, an army spokesman answered the question: Daniel Hagari refused to comment on Netanyahu’s publication or whether intelligence agencies warned of a possible escalation.

“We will conduct a thorough investigation and we will present everything to the public. Now we fight with our focus on the war,” Hagari said.

Netanyahu has also faced criticism from civil society. Because for more than three weeks of war, it did not take direct responsibility for the attack and did not attend the funerals of dead soldiers and civilians.

Hamas surprised Israel on October 7 with a massive attack that included rocket fire and the infiltration of some 2,000 militants into villages surrounding the Gaza Strip. resulting in more than 1,400 deaths and 5,000 injuries, and at least 230 kidnapped people brought into Gaza.

In response, Israel has since bombed the Gaza Strip, and since Friday it has attacked with tanks inside the strip, causing 7,700 Palestinians were killed and nearly 19,000 were injured.

(EFE)