Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday made a massive claim against Iran, alleging that Tehran “tried to kill” one of his sons.
“Something incredible happened: Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill one of my sons,” Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14 during a phone interview.
Shortly after Netanyahu’s remarks became public on Monday, prominent Israeli journalist Amit Segal wrote on his Telegram channel that the alleged assassination attempt had been known for “months” but was subject to a gag order.
The claim came during a discussion about reports that the Shin Bet domestic security agency had declined to provide a security detail for Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who is running neck and neck with Netanyahu ahead of elections on October 27.
Netanyahu voiced support for around-the-clock protection for Eisenkot, saying it was “not a luxury”.
“Without that, (the Iranians) will succeed,” he said.
Which of Netanyahu’s sons was targeted?
Benjamin Netanyahu has two sons and a daughter. It remains unclear which of his sons was allegedly targeted.
Netanyahu’s elder son, Yair, 35, has spent extended periods in Miami, United States, since early 2024, reportedly under Shin Bet protection.
His stay in the United States has attracted controversy in Israel over the cost to taxpayers of providing security, while some residents in South Florida have expressed concern that his presence could make the area a target for attacks by Israel’s enemies.
The Israeli PM’s other son, Avner, generally maintains a much lower public profile and continues to reside in Israel.
His only daughter is Noa Netanyahu-Roth, born from his first marriage to Miriam Weizmann. She leads a private, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) life in Jerusalem with her husband, Daniel Roth, and their children, according to Times of Israel.
The US-Israeli war with Iran, which has pushed energy prices higher worldwide, is about to hit its six-month mark. While heavy fighting has subsided, diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled, and oil and raw material shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, keeping energy prices elevated.
