Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that Iran had attempted to assassinate one of his sons. The prime minister made the allegation during a phone interview with the Israeli news outlet Channel 14 but did not provide details on the timing, location, or target of the alleged plot.
The comments were made during a discussion about security arrangements for Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief and political opponent. According to a report from The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu was addressing news that an Israeli security agency had declined to provide a protective detail for Eisenkot.
Netanyahu expressed support for providing Eisenkot with security protection. “This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu said during the interview, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. He added that without security, a future attempt “will succeed.”
The prime minister’s statement comes in the context of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. Earlier this year, a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation in Tehran resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and four of his family members. Following the strike, Iranian officials stated they would retaliate.
A week after the operation, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former supreme leader, was named his successor. In a public message coinciding with his father’s funeral ceremonies, the new supreme leader pledged to “avenge the blood” of his predecessor.
Netanyahu’s remarks also precede Israel’s general election, scheduled for October, with recent opinion polls indicating his governing coalition is trailing.
Netanyahu has two sons and one daughter. In July, Israeli authorities approved extended personal security for his wife and two sons, according to The Jerusalem Post. The prime minister’s elder son, Yair Netanyahu, has been residing in the United States since early 2024. The cost associated with his overseas security detail has been a subject of public discussion in Israel.
