Smotrich: I take responsibility for Hamas massacre

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich marked Memorial Day at the Ofakim cemetery in southern Israel today (Monday). Smotrich told onlookers: "I take responsibility for the events of Ocober 7th."

"As I said right after the terrible massacre, I say again with a bowed head and with immense pain before you, the sons and daughters of bereaved soldiers. The state leadership and security system failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel," he continued.

"We failed to protect the people and the country. As a member of the government, I take responsibility for events of that day," added the minister.

"We will do everything to commemorate the heroism of the fallen. We are guaranteed that the Jewish people are an eternal nation. We will continue the journey of our people in our Land," he said and admitted: "The leadership of the state and the security system failed in the task of protecting the citizens of Israel and I, as a member of the government, take responsibility for what was and will be."