Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran attempted to ‘murder’ one of his sons, but he has not revealed which son was allegedly targeted or provided details about when or how the reported plot took place.

Netanyahu made the claim during a phone interview with Israel’s pro-government Channel 14 on Monday, as he discussed security arrangements for senior Israeli figures and members of his family

Netanyahu says Iran targeted his son

Speaking about reports that Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency had refused to provide protection for former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu said his family also faced serious security threats. “Something incredible happened, Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill one of my sons,” Netanyahu said.

He also defended the need for security protection for his family, saying it was “not a luxury”. According to Netanyahu, without such protection, “the Iranians” would succeed. However, the PM did not identify which of his two sons was allegedly targeted. He also did not disclose whether the reported incident involved a direct assassination attempt, a planned attack or another form of threat.

Reports suggest alleged plot was kept secret

Israeli journalist Amit Segal later said on Telegram that the alleged assassination attempt had been known for “months” but had been covered by a gag order. A separate report by Channel 12 said Israel’s security establishment had been aware of the alleged plot for several months. The report said publication of details had been restricted by Israel’s military censor.

The lack of publicly available information means that important details about the alleged operation remain unclear, including the location, timing and nature of the threat.

Who are Netanyahu’s sons Yair and Avner?

Benjamin Netanyahu has two sons, Yair and Avner, as well as a daughter, Noa Netanyahu-Roth.

Yair Netanyahu

Yair Netanyahu, 35, is the elder son. He has spent long periods in Miami in the US since early 2024 and has reportedly received protection from the Shin Bet. His stay in the US has previously attracted controversy in Israel, particularly over the cost of his security arrangements to taxpayers. Some residents in South Florida have also raised concerns that his presence could increase the risk of the area becoming a target for attacks by Israel’s enemies

Yair is also known for his strongly right-wing political commentary. A Channel 12 report said the alleged assassination attempt took place while Yair was outside Israel.

Avner Netanyahu

Avner Netanyahu is Netanyahu’s younger son and generally maintains a much lower public profile than his elder brother. Avner lives in Israel.

However, the report did not say that which son was allegedly targeted.

Target and details remain unknown

Netanyahu’s comments have raised questions about the nature of the alleged Iranian operation, but no official details have been released identifying the son involved. It remains unknown whether Yair or Avner was allegedly targeted, as well as when and where the reported attempt took place and how Israeli authorities responded.

The claim comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Israel and continued tensions between Israel and Iran, adding further attention to the security arrangements surrounding Netanyahu’s family and other senior Israeli figures.