Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv on Sunday, warning voters of a “second Holocaust” just two days before Israel’s general election. The post, which appeared on social media on October 25, 2026, drew swift condemnations from political opponents who accused the premier of weaponizing fear to influence the vote.
The shared post originated from right-wing activist Yuval Bloomberg and argued that the State of Israel faces a tangible existential threat from Iran. According to the text accompanying the mushroom cloud image, controversies surrounding the current administration—including the Qatargate affair and efforts to pass an ultra-Orthodox draft exemption law—serve as a smokescreen hiding the overriding danger of a nuclear Iran. The post asserted that if two atomic bombs fell on central Israel, domestic political disputes would pale into insignificance. It claimed citizens risk exposing their families to destruction unless they elect a leader capable of confronting Tehran while U.S. President Donald Trump remains in office.
This messaging directly contradicted Netanyahu’s own prior assertions regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu stated at the United Nations last month that Israel had devastated Iran’s atomic weapons over the past year. In March similarly maintained that Israeli strikes ensured Tehran could no longer threaten the nation’s existence.
Critics quickly mobilized against the social media post ahead of the October 27 ballot. Yashar party chairman and election frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot condemned the publication on X, writing that Netanyahu was resorting to familiar scare tactics. Netanyahu, you’re hysterical,
Eisenkot stated, adding that the premier was threatening citizens with mass destruction after failing to achieve the objectives of the war in Iran.
Democrats chairman Yair Golan also responded sharply on X, asserting that the prime minister and those around him had lost control as election pressure mounted. Golan requested that Netanyahu be kept away from social media platforms. Meanwhile, B’Yachad chairman Naftali Bennett rejected the premise of the post, noting that Israel existed long before the current administration and will endure long after it.
Behind the scenes, the campaign has intersected with diplomatic overtures in Washington. An Israeli source told Axios that Netanyahu recently asked President Trump to publicly reiterate support for his reelection campaign.
| Political Figure | Party | Stance on Netanyahu’s Post |
|---|---|---|
| Gadi Eisenkot | Yashar | Accused the prime minister of hysteria, lies, and scare tactics |
| Yair Golan | Democrats | Argued the premier lost control and called for him to be kept off social media |
| Naftali Bennett | B’Yachad | Called the claim that only Netanyahu can save the country a lie |
| Yair Lapid | B’Yachad (No. 2) | Mocked the logical consistency of the security and economic arguments |
The electoral stakes are massive as the country prepares for the upcoming vote, with the Central Elections Committee managing millions of eligible voters across thousands of polling stations. As political figures trade barbs over national security and existential threats, voters will render their verdict at the ballot box.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv on Sunday, warning that his election defeat could expose Israel to a “second Holocaust.” The image accompanied a post originally written by right-wing activist Yuval…
