Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Alleges Iran Targeted His Son in Assassination Plot

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran attempted to assassinate one of his sons, though he provided no specific details regarding the timing, location, or which of his sons was the target.

The allegation was made on Monday during a phone interview with Channel 14, a conservative Israeli outlet known for favorable coverage of the government, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. The statement came while Netanyahu's coalition lagged in opinion polls ahead of the general election in October, following a war between the United States and Israel against Iran.

The conflict began with a joint US-Israeli strike on Tehran, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with four family members, including his daughter, Boshra, and his 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra.

“This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu stated during the interview. He made these remarks while addressing reports that an Israeli security agency had declined to provide a security detail for Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who is competing closely with Netanyahu for the upcoming prime minister position.

Netanyahu expressed support for round-the-clock protection for Gadi Eisenkot, describing it as a necessity rather than a luxury to prevent successful Iranian plots. Netanyahu shares two sons and a daughter with his wife. According to The Jerusalem Post, both of his sons and his wife were granted extended personal protection by Israeli authorities in July.

His elder son, Yair, who is 35 years old, has resided in Miami in the United States for extended periods since early 2024, sparking domestic controversy in Israel concerning the taxpayer costs associated with his security detail.

In response to the killings of Ali Khamenei and his family, Iran has vowed retaliation. Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new supreme leader one week following the death of Ali Khamenei. Although Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment, he released a statement during his father's funeral ceremonies promising to avenge the former supreme leader.