2014 Image Falsely Viral As PM Netanyahu Sending His Son To Fight Against Hamas

The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel on Saturday. In response, Israel started a war against Hamas and bombed Gaza. So far, around 2100 people have died on both sides in the war.

Amidst of it, an image is circulating with a claim that Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu sent his son to join the ongoing war against Hamas.

Fact Crescendo received this image with fact-check requests on our WhatsApp Tipline (9049053770).

We found that the viral image is not connected to the current conflict. It is actually from 2014 when Netanyahu’s youngest son, Avner, started his military service in the Israel Defense Forces.

WHAT’S THE CLAIM?

Panjab Kesari’s Jammu & Kashmir Facebook page shared the below image as breaking news along with the caption that reads – “Israel PM Netanyahu sends his son to serve the country as a soldier.”

Original Post – Facebook

FACT-CHECK

A Google reverse image search led us to multiple news reports confirming that the viral image is not recent; it is actually from 2014.

The Times of Israel report published on 1 December 2014 carried the same image. 

In December 2014, Avner Netanyahu, the youngest son of Israel’s prime minister, began his mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). At that time, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were present at the Ammunition Hill collection point to see their son off as he started on his military service.

Read – Times of Isreal

As per the 1949 Israeli Security Service Law, compulsory military service is required for Israeli citizens of Jewish, Druze, or Circassian backgrounds when they reach the age of 18. 

Other Israeli Arabs, religious women, married individuals, and those deemed unfit medically or mentally are exempt from compulsory military service. 

Once enlisted, men are expected to serve for a minimum of 32 months and women are expected to serve for a minimum of 24 months. (Read here)

Avner Netanyahu finished his mandatory military service in 2017. Avner served in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the claim suggesting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his son to fight against Hamas in the current conflict is inaccurate. The image is from 2014 when Avner Netanyahu began his military service in the IDF, and it is not connected to the current events.

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