Reported from the source

Quick summary: Amid recent conflict, social media has been rife with misleading claims regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family. DW Fact Check debunked viral theories suggesting Netanyahu fled to Germany and his son was living a luxurious life in Miami.

Following recent tensions and conflict in the Middle East, several viral claims about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family circulated on social media platforms. DW Fact Check investigated two prominent theories. One claim, widely shared on TikTok, alleged that Netanyahu had fled to Germany. A video, garnering over two million views, showed the Israeli government plane “Wing of Zion” landing in Berlin, with the user claiming Netanyahu was on board. DW Fact Check found this to be misleading. While the plane did land in Berlin on February 28, an unnamed German government official told Reuters that it was for its own safety, carrying only crew members. Netanyahu was confirmed to have had various appointments in Israel during this time, including meetings with IDF and Mossad commanders and a visit to an Iranian missile strike site. The author of the TikTok video later added a correction, clarifying Netanyahu was not on the plane. Another viral post on X, with nearly 6 million views, claimed Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, was living a life of luxury in Miami with state-funded security. Photos of Yair by a pool and on a balcony were used to support this argument. DW Fact Check determined this claim was also misleading. A reverse image search revealed the photos of Yair by the pool had been in circulation for at least two years. Furthermore, Yair Netanyahu himself posted a selfie from Jerusalem on his personal X account, stating, “I’m in Israel right now — not at the beach in Miami.”

Source: www.dw.com