Netanyahu Dodges CNN's Question on Assuming Responsibility for October 7 Attack
Israeli PM Netanyahu avoids responsibility for October 7 attack in Israel, refusing to respond to CNN's question He defers answering until after the war, highlighting the urgency to prioritize patient evacuation from war-torn Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to address whether he would assume accountability for the failure to prevent the October 7 attack on Israel, indicating that the timing for discussing such "challenging" inquiries would be appropriate after the conclusion of the war. During an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Netanyahu acknowledged the significance of the question but emphasized the necessity for unity in the country's objective of defeating Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza and responsible for launching the offensive against Israel.
The Prime Minister mentioned that they would respond to all of these inquiries and emphasized the importance of uniting the country towards a common goal - attaining triumph.
People look at an installation called "Empty Beds" on November 9 in Tel Aviv, where beds represent around 240 hostages seized in the attack by Hamas gunmen.
Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters
Hostage negotiators discussing days-long fighting pause between Israel and Hamas in exchange for freeing large group
"Lets focus on victory - thats my responsibility now."
Israeli authorities have criticized Netanyahu for his failure to foresee the most devastating assault on Israel since the country's establishment in 1948. Last month, Hamas insurgents killed over 1,200 individuals and captured over 200 hostages, as reported by Israeli authorities. At a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the families of the incarcerated captives appealed to Netanyahu and the government to take further action to ensure the safe return of their beloved ones.
The prime minister assured CNN on Sunday that Israel is making relentless efforts to secure the release of the hostages, emphasizing that this is one of his top two priorities in the ongoing conflict, alongside dismantling Hamas.
He further emphasized his position on international appeals for a ceasefire, stating that he would only consider a pause in the fighting if it guarantees the safe return of the hostages.
Tens of thousands of Gazans have been seeking refuge in the southern part of the enclave through temporary evacuation corridors. When questioned about the possibility of implementing multi-day pauses, Netanyahu dismissed the idea, stating, "That's not a pause." He explained that Hamas would take advantage of these extended breaks to restock their resources, indicating that it aligns with their objectives to end the fighting.
"Hamas wants an endless series of pauses that basically dissipate the battle against them," he said.
No reason why we cant just take the patients out of there
Israel has been consistently conducting bombardments on Gaza since the October 7 attacks, resulting in the tragic loss of Palestinian lives. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, responsible for gathering statistics from the Hamas-controlled region, reports a distressing toll of at least 11,025 fatalities. Shockingly, this includes 4,506 children and 3,027 women, leaving an additional 27,000 individuals injured.
Ambulances filled with victims of Israeli airstrikes line up outside the emergency ward of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 15, 2023. In response to a brutal attack by Hamas militants on October 7, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 people in Israel, Israel launched a relentless air campaign against them. (Photo by Dawood NEMER / AFP) (Photo by DAWOOD NEMER/AFP via Getty Images)
Dawood Nemer/AFP/Getty Images
Please stop this. Gazas hospitals are failing under the weight of war. US medical groups are scrambling to help
When questioned about the dire state of hospitals in Gaza due to Israel's advancing ground offensive, Netanyahu informed CNN that Israel is mitigating the situation by creating secure pathways on the ground for patients. However, he emphasized that Hamas will not be granted immunity. "We have identified safe routes leading to a secure zone south of Gaza City," he stated, expressing the intention to relocate all civilians away from danger.
Netanyahu accused Hamas of being responsible for the civilian casualties and claimed that about "100" individuals have already been evacuated from Al-Shifa hospital, the largest healthcare facility in Gaza. He stated, "There is no justification for not moving the patients from there."
CNN is unable to substantiate these assertions. Israel had previously announced the creation of a pathway near Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday, but the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it could not verify whether any evacuations had occurred.
Post-war Gaza
Palestinian authorities in Gaza and the West Bank accused the Israeli military of shooting at individuals who were transferring between hospital structures, although the Israeli military has refuted these claims.
Given the ongoing conflict, it is uncertain who will assume control of Gaza following the war. The United States proposed that the Palestinian Authority, which currently has limited autonomy in the occupied West Bank, might have a role to play in this regard.
On June 21, 2023, in London, England, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers a speech at the opening session of the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Co-hosted by the UK and Ukraine, the conference aims to rally international support for Ukraine's economic and social stabilization, seeking recovery from the impacts of Russia's illegal war. (Photo by Henry Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Henry Nicholls/Getty Images
Blinken brings a notable shift in US language toward Israel as pressure mounts at home and abroad
Netanyahu stated that Israel's security role in a Gaza after the war would involve a comprehensive military approach, but he did not provide further details. He emphasized the need for a reconstructed civilian authority, such as a civilian Palestinian Authority, to take control in Gaza. This authority should be committed to combating terrorism and promoting peaceful cooperation, prosperity, and education for a future that includes Israel, rather than seeking its destruction.
"That hasn't occurred thus far," he added.
"There must be an alternative. Otherwise, we are merely descending into the same abyss, and we will face identical outcomes. Recall that the PA [Palestinian Authority] already had a presence in Gaza," Netanyahu continued.
The PA used to run both Gaza and the West Bank but was ousted after a brief civil war with Hamas.
