Israeli President Moshe Katsav has added his voice to world condemnation of Israel's air raid in Gaza that killed an Islamic militant leader and 14 other people, including nine children.
He said today the operation was a "mishap", army radio reported.
"The political leadership must take responsibility for this mishap," the president said, deploring the deaths of "innocent civilians".
But Katsav stressed there was "no reason to hang anybody for what happened".
The head of the military wing of the radical Islamic group Hamas, Salah Shehade, was blown to pieces when an Israeli jet dropped a guided bombed on his house in a crowded residential area of Gaza City late on Monday.
The raid was severely condemned by the international community, including the United States, Israel's main ally.
Finance Minister Silvan Shalom said today that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had not been informed of the risk of hitting "innocent civilians" in the raid.
Earlier Australia condemned the strike in Gaza City as an "over-reaction" and urged Israel to show more restraint in the future.
Islamic militant group Hamas has vowed revenge for the Israeli air strike. An upsurge in violence could endanger a fragile dialogue between Israel and Palestinian moderates.
The Minsiter for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen expressed "shock" at the attack.
"The use of air-launched missiles in densely-populated areas can only result in civilian casualties on the scale we have seen.
"This kind of attack is not a reasoned or proportionate response to the threat of terrorism," Mr Cowen said.
AFPand