Israel’s Netanyahu again dodges responsibility for Oct. 7 failures, blames army, past governments
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined to accept personal responsibility for the Oct. 7 security failures, instead attributing them to the defense establishment and previous governments in a document submitted to the state comptroller, Israeli media reported Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again sidestepped personal accountability for the security failures surrounding the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, instead shifting blame to Israel’s military leadership and former governments, according to Israeli media reports on Friday. In a 55-page document submitted to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman at the end of 2025, Netanyahu reportedly placed responsibility on defense officials and past administrations while presenting selected quotations from former officials to argue that no one had anticipated the Hamas-led assault.
Political Maneuvering and Reactions
During a parliamentary committee session on Thursday, Netanyahu read excerpts from pre-Oct. 7 meetings featuring former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, and former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, sparking heated reactions from opposition members. The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu used carefully chosen quotes to claim he had supported assassinating Hamas leaders while security officials opposed the move. Opposition figures criticized the document, pointing to warnings issued before Oct. 7 about the risk of a multi-front escalation.
Broader Context and Ongoing Controversy
Netanyahu continues to reject calls for a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attacks, which could hold him personally accountable. His submission comes as the Supreme Court ordered the comptroller’s investigation suspended in December 2025 amid claims that only a full state inquiry could properly examine the failures. The prime minister also cited records from a 2014 Cabinet meeting where he raised occupying Gaza, while other ministers—including now-rival Naftali Bennett—opposed the move, highlighting the political tensions ahead of this year’s elections.
Background of the Conflict
The Oct. 7 attacks triggered a two-year Israeli military offensive in Gaza that killed nearly 72,000 Palestinians, wounded over 171,000, and destroyed about 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure. Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, Israeli violations have continued, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties according to Gaza health authorities.
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