Social media in Israel once again crossed a red line. A 21-year-old from Eilat uploaded a video to Instagram openly threatening to kill Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family. Within hours, a police officer from the Jerusalem District noticed the post, triggering a swift chain of events that led to the suspect’s arrest and a formal indictment for threats.
Instagram Threat Video
On Monday afternoon, against the backdrop of the return of twenty hostages held by Hamas, the young man recorded himself declaring: “Slaughter him with a gun – yes, kill him.” Despite a friend urging him to remove the post, the video remained online. Officers from Jerusalem’s Lev HaBira station quickly traced and arrested the suspect.
Indictment in Jerusalem District Court
Days later, prosecutors filed an indictment for making threats, along with a request to detain him until the end of proceedings. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended his arrest to allow investigators to complete their work. In similar cases, suspects are sometimes referred for psychiatric evaluation, though police did not mention such a step here.
(On Highway 1 – Dangerous Prayer Near Jerusalem)
Free Speech Versus Criminal Threats
The case underlines the fragile line between freedom of expression and criminal responsibility. When words become explicit, filmed threats, the online arena is no longer abstract — it becomes a trigger for immediate state intervention. Israel Police stated: “We will continue to act with determination and speed to prosecute anyone who attempts to harm, threaten, or harass public officials, and we will use every legal tool to prevent such cases from recurring.”
