Netanyahu says Iran tried to kill one of his sons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Iran had tried to kill one of his two sons, but gave no details about the alleged attempt.

“Something incredible happened: Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill one of my sons,” Netanyahu said in a phone interview with Israel's Channel 14.

The claim came during a discussion about security protection for Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief who is running against Netanyahu ahead of elections on October 27. Netanyahu said he supported around-the-clock protection for Eisenkot, calling it “not a luxury”.

“Without that, (the Iranians) will succeed,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu has two sons and a daughter. It remains unclear which son he was referring to. His elder son, Yair Netanyahu, 35, has spent extended periods in Miami since early 2024, reportedly under Shin Bet protection.

Yair Netanyahu's stay in the United States has drawn controversy in Israel over the cost of 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.

After Netanyahu's remarks became public, Israeli journalist Amit Segal wrote on Telegram that the alleged assassination attempt had been known for “months” but was subject to a gag order.

Israel killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the opening salvo of US-Israeli strikes on February 28, along with some of his family members. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new supreme leader a week later.

In a message read on state television, Mojtaba Khamenei said he had lost his father, wife, sister, her child and brother-in-law. Another message attributed to him and published for funeral ceremonies for his father pledged to “avenge the blood” of Ali Khamenei.