Netanyahu's team suggests military should be held responsible for Oct. 7 attacks

By Enes Canli

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's team is suggesting that the military should be held responsible for what happened on Oct. 7, Israeli Channel 12 reported.

According to the report, Yossi Shelley, a member of Netanyahu's inner circle, allegedly stated during a meeting that the blame should be placed on the army command rather than on Netanyahu.

He indicated that the chief of staff, leaders of the security organization, and similar entities were the ones who should be held accountable.

According to the report, several other members of Netanyahu's team share this perspective, and they might continue to hold the military responsible even after the Gaza conflict is over.

However, Shelley's office denied these reports and emphasized that their primary concern is leading the country to victory rather than seeking out a scapegoat.

Shelley had previously faced criticism for suggesting that a festival contributed to chaos during the Oct. 7 attacks.

He also compared the time to identify missing persons and Israeli prisoners in Gaza to “waiting in a supermarket line, where things don't run smoothly no matter how many cashiers there are.”

The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.