Israeli President Herzog apologizes to relatives of October 7 victims

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has apologized to the relatives of the victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7 last year on behalf of the Israeli state.

"I am standing here as president of the State of Israel and apologizing," Herzog said during a ceremony in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Unlike Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet apologized.

He has admitted mistakes by the security apparatus, but Netanyahu wants an investigation only after the Gaza war has ended.

Herzog was clear: "Sorry we failed to defend your loved ones, sorry we breached the most basic and committed contract between a country and its citizens to defend their lives and safety," Herzog said.

Hamas terrorists and other militants from the Gaza Strip killed 1,200 people and abducted 250 people in the surprise attack on Israel more than a year ago. Warnings about the possibility of such a wide-scale assault were apparently ignored.