Evidence

Multiple mainstream outlets (Reuters via US News, France 24, Al Jazeera, The Jerusalem Post, Fox News) reported on August 24-25, 2026 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a phone interview with Israel's Channel 14 that 'Iran tried to kill one of my sons' or 'tried to murder one of my sons.' He made the remark while arguing for extended security protection for prime ministerial candidates ahead of Israel's October 27 election, in the context of Shin Bet declining to provide protection to rival candidate Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu did not specify which son (Yair or Avner) was targeted, when the alleged plot occurred, how it was thwarted, or provide any evidence. Reuters explicitly noted he 'gave no details about when the alleged plot took place, which son was targeted or how close it came to being carried out.' Israeli journalist Amit Segal reportedly said on Telegram that the alleged plot had been known for months but was under a gag order. Iran's UN mission did not respond to requests for comment. No independent verification of the underlying assassination plot, and no fact-check from Reuters Fact Check, AFP Fact Check, Bellingcat, or EUvsDisinfo specifically addressing this claim, was found in searches.