Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adjusts the headphones during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, Pool, File)2025-12-23T10:45:50Z JERUSALEM (AP) A former close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that immediately following the October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered Israels two-year war in Gaza, the Israeli leader instructed him to figure out how the premier could evade responsibility for the security breach. Former Netanyahu spokesperson Eli Feldstein, who faces trial for allegedly leaking classified information to the press, made the explosive accusation during an extensive interview with Israels Kan news channel Monday night.Critics have repeatedly accused Netanyahu of refusing to accept blame for the deadliest attack in Israels history. But little is known about Netanyahus behavior in the days immediately following the attack, while the premier has consistently resisted an independent state inquiry.Speaking to Kan, Feldstein said the first task he received from Netanyahu after Oct. 7, 2023, was to stifle calls for accountability. He asked me, What are they talking about in the news? Are they still talking about responsibility? Feldstein said. He wanted me to think of something that could be said that would offset the media storm surrounding the question of whether the prime minister had taken responsibility or not. He added that Netanyahu looked panicked when he made the request. Feldstein said he was later told by people in Netanyahus close circle to omit the word responsibility from all statements. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages back to Gaza. Israel then launched a devastating war in Gaza that has killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children. Netanyahus office called the interview a long series of mendacious and recycled allegations made by a man with clear personal interests who is trying to deflect responsibility from himself, Hebrew media reported. Feldsteins statements come after his indictment in a case where he is accused of leaking classified military information to a German tabloid to improve public perception of the prime minister following the killing of six hostages in Gaza in August of last year. Feldstein is also a suspect in the Qatargate scandal, one of two close aides to Netanyahu accused of accepting money from Qatar while also working for the prime minister. JULIA FRANKEL Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site