Israel-Hamas attack: Israel's former PM Bennett bears responsibility for failures leading to devastating Hamas attack

Israel-Hamas attack: The conflict, ignited by a surprise weekend attack on October 7 by Hamas operatives on Israeli border areas completed more than two weeks now. 

The deadliest escalation of the conflict in decades has witnessed a massive rocket barrage and a multi-front offensive by Hamas, resulting in reports of approximately 2,500 individuals, including militants, breached the border and carried out violent actions in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians.

The situation in Israel and Gaza remains highly volatile and fluid, with the conflict showing no signs of immediate resolution.

Israel's former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he bears the responsibility for the significant failures that paved the way for the devastating Hamas attack on October 7. 

In a statement, Naftali Bennett said, "Of course I also bear responsibility. I served as prime minister for 12 months. There were things that I can't elaborate on, that I didn't have time to do that could have dramatically changed the situation, and then the government fell."

Notably, Bennett served as prime minister from June 2021 to June 2022.

"Do I bear responsibility? Certainly," he acknowledged his responsibility but noted that he never allowed the transfer of funds from Qatar to Hamas during his tenure, a policy initiated under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bennett is the most recent in a series of senior current and former officials who have taken responsibility for the failures that contributed to the unexpected Hamas assault. 

Several other senior officials, including Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have also taken responsibility for the failures that led to the Hamas assault.

The deadly Hamas attack on Israel is a new cloud "darkening" the horizon of the world economy and has impacted economy especially oil markets. 

- With inputs from agencies

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