Fact Check: Old image of Netanyahu sending his son to army falsely linked to conflict with Hamas

Social Media users are sharing an image of Isreal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his son. Users claim that he is sending his son to join the Israeli army to fight against Hamas in the ongoing war.

An X premium user shared the image with the caption, “What a Leader A true Patriotism: Benjamin Netanyahu sending his son on National Duty to Participate in the war against Hamas. Israeli Army.”

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the image is from 2014. The claim that it shows Netanyahu sending his son to fight against Hamas in the ongoing war is false.

Upon a reverse image search, we found the image carried by a 2014 report of The Times of Israel titled “Netanyahus see son off to join the IDF.”

As per the report, the image shows Netanyahu and his wife Sara, with their youngest son Avner Netanyahu, at Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill on December 01, 2014. The parents are giving a sendoff to Avner before going for military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

We also found the image in a 2014 report of The Jerusalem Post titled, “PM Netanyahu’s son Avner lightly injured during IDF basic training accident.”

Avner had lightly injured himself during his IDF basic training at the Zikim military base in the South. He was taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for treatment and released after a series of check-ups.

It also mentioned Avner following the path of his father chose the combat unit, unlike his brother, who joined the IDF Spokesman's Unit.

Hence, we conclude that the viral image of Netanyahu and his wife sending off his son is from 2014. It does not show them sending their son to join the Israeli army to fight against Hamas in the ongoing war. The claim is false.