In rare move, Netanyahu apologizes to deceased hostage's family

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a rare move, apologized on Sunday to the family of slain hostage Alexander Lobanov for the fact that he and five other hostages held in Gaza were not rescued alive.

Netanyahu's office announced that the prime minister wanted to speak to other families during the course of the day.

"The prime minister expressed deep regret, and apologized to the family, that the State of Israel did not succeed in returning Alexander and the other five hostages alive," the statement said.

Netanyahu's military adviser had returned in the morning from a visit to Moscow, the aim of which had been to advance efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war, according to the statement.

Alexander Lobanov and other hostages were also discussed during the Moscow meeting. Lobanov, a father of two, had both Israeli and Russian citizenship.