Internet split as Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu has been ‘rightfully criticized’ for Oct 7 Hamas attack

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the terror assault carried out by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the killing of almost 1,200 people, 'should have never happened', as per the New York Post.

In an extensive interview with TIME magazine that was published on Tuesday, April 30, Trump expressed his belief that Netanyahu has been deeply impacted by the attack on southern Israel.

Donald Trump attacks Benjamin Netanyahu over Oct 7 Hamas attack

Trump blamed Netanyahu for failing to prevent the Oct 7 attack. “It happened on his watch,” Trump said.

Talking about the Israeli security forces, Donald Trump said during the interview, "They have the most sophisticated equipment. They had — everything was there to stop that. And a lot of people knew about it, you know, thousands and thousands of people knew about it, but Israel didn’t know about it, and I think he’s being blamed for that very strongly, being blamed."

He added, "I will say this. Bibi Netanyahu rightfully has been criticized for what took place on October 7."

Notably, since January 2020, when, according to Trump, Israel withdrew from the operation that resulted in the death of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, the two have been at odds.

Trump said, "That was going to be a joint [attack] and all of a sudden, we were told that Israel was not doing it. And I was not happy about that. That was something I never forgot. And it showed me something."

Notably, former top White House advisor and first son-in-law Jared Kushner said in his 2022 memoir that Trump had inquired about supporting Netanyahu's opponent Benny Gantz in Israel's March 2020 elections.

When asked by TIME if he believed he could collaborate with Gantz more effectively than Netanyahu, Trump said, "I think Benny Gantz is good, but I’m not prepared to say that. I haven’t spoken to him about it. But you have some very good people that I’ve gotten to know in Israel that could do a good job."

After the unresolved Knesset vote in March 2020, Gantz, who is presently a minister without a portfolio in Netanyahu's war cabinet, held the position of alternate prime minister for 13 months.

Throughout his presidency, Trump maintained a close relationship with Netanyahu, managing the US's acceptance of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and mediating the Abraham Accords, which restored diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Internet stays divided as Trump takes jibe at Benjamin Netanyahu

People online had mixed reactions as Donald Trump slammed Benjamin Netanyahu for the terror attack carried out by Hamas on October 7. 

A user posted on social media platform X, "As always, Trump criticizes the past and has no solution for the present."

One added, "Arrest Netanyahu for the worst atrocities in human history."

A person also stated, "Nothing should ever happen according to that clown. And when it does he offers no solution. What a leader."

Another mentioned, "Why was October 7th allowed to happen?"

A user also wrote, "It’s too rich. Trump always seems to be right."

A comment read, "Divide and Conquer."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.