FACT CHECK: Viral photo claims Israeli PM Netanyahu's son joins military amid conflict

A nearly nine-year-old photograph depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, bidding farewell to their younger son, Avner, has been widely circulated with a misleading claim. The image suggested that Avner is joining the military amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, an India TV Fact Check investigation has revealed the true context of the photograph.

The photo is being shared with a caption that states, “Benjamin Netanyahu blesses his son as he tends to join his national duty in the war against Hamas to protect his countrymen. We rarely find sons of political dynasties joining Indian Army in a call for national duty. Let's not forget similarly the Israel opposition leaders have also offered themselves to join the war movement.”

Image Source : INDIA TVScreenshot of fake claim made by on social media platform.

Correcting the misinformation
The photo in question was actually taken in 2014, when Avner Netanyahu commenced his mandatory three-year military service in the Israel Defense Forces. The misleading claim inaccurately connects the photo to the recent Israel-Palestine conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023. This conflict has seen tragic loss of life on both sides, with more than 2,000 reported casualties.
The viral photo is shared with a caption suggesting that Benjamin Netanyahu's son is joining the military to protect his countrymen amid the conflict. It also draws a comparison with the Indian context, emphasising that political dynasty scions rarely join the Indian Army for national duty. It further highlights that even opposition leaders in Israel have volunteered to join the war effort.
Verifying the true context
The India TV Fact Check team conducted a reverse image search on the photograph and uncovered Israel-based news reports from December 1, 2014, that carried the same image. The Times of Israel published the photo with a caption detailing the date and context: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, seen with their son Avner, at Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill on December 01, 2014.”

Image Source : INDIA TVScreenshot of ‘The Times of Israel’ with a caption detailing the date and context.

An excerpt from the article provided insight into the image's origin, explaining that Avner Netanyahu initiated his military service with the Israel Defense Forces, and his parents were there to bid him farewell as he embarked on this journey. Additionally, it mentioned that Avner's older brother, Yair, had already completed his military service.
To corroborate these findings, The Jerusalem Post reported the same details about the photograph. Avner began his mandatory three-year army service by enlisting in the IDF's Combat Intelligence Collection Corps.
This investigation clarifies that the viral photograph does not depict Avner Netanyahu's recent enlistment amid the ongoing conflict but rather captures a moment from his military service initiation in 2014. It highlights the importance of fact-checking during times of heightened tension and misinformation.
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