Claim: Video shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck in the face by a supporter.
Fact: This claim is false. The video actually shows Turkish politician Özgür Özel being assailed in May 2025, not Netanyahu.
Social media users in Pakistan have shared a video (archive) containing the following text: “نیتن یاہو کو اپنے ہی لوگوں نے چماٹوں کی بارش کردی”
[Translation: Netanyahu received a flurry of slaps from his own people.]
Israel launches strikes in Iran
On 13 June, Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites. The strike targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and senior military leadership; among those reportedly killed were Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards Chief Hossein Salami, and IRGC Aerospace Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as well as six Iranian nuclear scientists.
Israel targeted key sites, including a major oil depot, a natural gas field, and residential areas, resulting in at least 78 people being killed and over 300 injured in Iran, as of 13 June. In response, Iran launched over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones at Israeli targets. On 24 June, the Associated Press (AP) quoted the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists as saying that up to 24 people had been killed and over 1,000 injured in Israel.
The conflict entered its second week with the US officially entering the war on 21 June. The US struck three main nuclear sites in Iran and US President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would face more devastating attacks if it did not agree to peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling it a historic move that would prevent a dangerous regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the attacks as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, warning of serious consequences and asserting Iran’s right to self-defense.
Following the US strikes, Iran retaliated by launching a missile attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key US military installation. Qatar’s air defenses intercepted the majority of the missiles, and no casualties were reported. This marked a significant escalation, as it was Iran’s first direct attack on US forces in the Gulf during the conflict.
To de-escalate tensions, Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which was declared effective on 24 June. However, just before the ceasefire was to take effect, Iran launched a missile strike on the Israeli city of Beersheba, killing at least four civilians and injuring 20 others. Israel accused Iran of violating the ceasefire and responded with airstrikes targeting sites in Tehran.
Iran’s military denied launching missiles toward Israel, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing the Islamic republic’s state-run news agency. However, sirens blared across Israel on Monday, according to the Israeli military, while an official told the AP that two Iranian missiles were intercepted.
President Trump expressed strong disapproval of both nations for breaching the ceasefire. He used particularly strong language, warning Israel against further military actions which would violate the agreement.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check found the claim dubious as the man in the video does not bear any resemblance to the Israeli Prime Minister. Since the video included a watermark reading “2 Sayfaofficial,” Soch Fact Check searched the term and traced it to the Instagram account @2.sayfaofficial, which is categorised as a news and media website. The account featured Turkish-language content, indicating it is a Turkey-based media outlet.
The video in question was shared on 4 May 2025 with the caption: “CHP President Özgür Özel was attacked at the memorial service at AKM. An investigation has been launched into the attack. @okanmermervip.”
According to multiple reports on the incident, Türkiye’s Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) leader, Özgür Özel, was slapped in the face by a white-haired man as he exited the Atatürk Cultural Center in central Istanbul, where he had attended a memorial for pro-Kurdish politician Sırrı Süreyya Önder in May 2025.
The incident, captured on camera, showed Özel momentarily holding his head in pain before the attacker was swiftly apprehended. Authorities identified the assailant as a 66 year-old man who had previously served time for killing his two children in 2004 and was released on parole in 2020. The attack reignited concerns over the safety of politicians in Turkey, drawing parallels to a similar assault in 2019 on Özel’s predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, after he attended a funeral.
Finally, Soch Fact Check conducted a keyword search to determine whether Netanyahu had recently been involved in a similar incident or was assaulted recently, but did not find any relevant reports.
Virality
The claim garnered significant traction on Facebook, receiving over 24,000 likes and 5,000 shares. It was shared here, here, here, here, and here. Archived here, here, here, here, and here.
On Instagram, it was shared here (archive).
Conclusion: The viral video does not show Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It actually shows Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel being assailed as he exited a funeral.
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Background image in cover photo: Anadolu Agency
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