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Netanyahu alleges Iran attempted to kill one of his sons

By isabelle // 2026-08-25

• Netanyahu claims Iran tried to assassinate one of his sons, without providing evidence or details.
• Family security was expanded months before the claim, including lifetime protection for his wife.
• The allegation emerged amid political pressure ahead of elections, with Netanyahu trailing in polls.
• Tensions follow a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and family.
• No Israeli security agency has publicly confirmed the plot, prompting skepticism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Monday that Iran tried to assassinate one of his sons, an allegation he made without identifying which child was targeted or providing details about the timing or nature of the plot. The statement surfaced during a phone interview with Channel 14, a conservative Israeli outlet, in which Netanyahu defended security arrangements for his family and a political rival ahead of the October 27 national election. Netanyahu, whose coalition has trailed in recent opinion surveys, said the alleged plot underscored why expanded protection for his relatives was essential. "This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons," he said. He did not specify whether the target was Yair, who has lived primarily in Miami, or Avner, who resides in Israel.

Family security expanded months before public disclosure

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu's wife, Sara, and both sons received upgraded state protection in July, weeks before the prime minister's public remarks. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that Israeli security officials had been aware of the alleged plot for months, but that a military gag order kept the matter out of public view until now. The expanded coverage includes lifetime security for Sara Netanyahu, regardless of the election's outcome. The disclosure comes amid scrutiny of the costs associated with protecting Yair Netanyahu, whose extended stays in Florida have drawn criticism. Reports from 2024 estimated his security detail, including Shin Bet agents, cost roughly $55,000 per month — a price tag Israeli taxpayers have long questioned given that Yair lives abroad.

Political context and rival's security dispute

Netanyahu made the allegations while discussing security for Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and leading challenger in the upcoming vote. The Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, initially declined to provide Eisenkot with a security detail before reversing course Monday to allow him armed guards, though not agency-provided protection. Netanyahu argued that around-the-clock security for candidates was necessary, warning that without it, "the Iranians will succeed." He said he had separately instructed Shin Bet chief David Zini to make sure any prime ministerial candidate received adequate protection.

Tensions with Iran following deadly strikes

The claim arrives amid heightened hostilities between Israel, the United States, and Iran. A joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Tehran in February killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his daughter Boshra, and other family members, including a 14-month-old granddaughter. Iran has pledged revenge, and Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, who was named as his successor, has vowed to "avenge the blood" of the former leader. Netanyahu's accusation follows similar claims by President Donald Trump, who said Tehran had attempted to assassinate him. Intelligence agencies reportedly placed only "low confidence" in the Israeli-supplied information behind one such claim, and Iran has denied ever seeking to kill Trump or other American officials. Iran's UN mission had not responded to a request for comment as of publication. The prime minister's remarks come as his governing bloc faces a difficult path to retaining power, with polls showing Eisenkot running roughly even with, or ahead of, Netanyahu's Likud party. The country's notoriously splintered opposition, however, has no obvious route to a governing majority of its own. Netanyahu offered no evidence for his claim, and no Israeli security agency has publicly confirmed a specific plot against his sons. The fact that an Israeli leader can invoke a secret, unverified assassination plot to justify expanding taxpayer-funded protection for relatives living comfortably abroad — weeks before facing voters — is the kind of unaccountable governance that has fueled skepticism of Netanyahu's coalition even among its own supporters. Sources for this article include: RT.com TimesOfIsrael.com FoxNews.com Reuters.com AlJazeera.com

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