Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that Israel is protecting the West and the free world while defending his country’s ongoing military actions as legitimate self-defense. Speaking three years after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, Herzog emphasized that Israel never sought the current war. “We want peace… We did not seek that war. It was waged upon us by horrific, barbaric terrorists,” he said during an America’s Newsroom interview. The president framed Israel’s fight as one forced upon it by the unprecedented assault that killed and abducted thousands. He underscored that the conflict continues as a response to that initial aggression rather than a war of choice. Herzog’s remarks came as the nation marked the anniversary of the attacks that reshaped regional security.

In the formal appearance, with Israeli flags visible behind him, Herzog reiterated Israel’s desire for peace while insisting the country has a right and duty to defend itself. He positioned the military campaign as part of a broader effort that benefits democratic societies beyond Israel’s borders. The 32-second video clip circulating from the interview captures him speaking deliberately as Fox News graphics noted the anniversary. Herzog has consistently argued that the struggle against the groups that launched the October 7 assault serves wider Western interests. His comments reinforce the longstanding Israeli view that the war was imposed by terrorists and that the nation remains committed to eventual peace once security threats are addressed. The interview highlights the enduring impact of the 2023 attacks on Israel’s strategic posture and its public messaging three years later.