'Where is he?': Benjamin Netanyahu questioned over son Yair’s stay in US amid Hamas war

Recently the universities in Israel decided to delay the start of the academic year until the massive call-up of reserve soldiers ends, The Times of Israel reported. Previously, the semester, which was scheduled to begin on October 15, was delayed until November 5. The call-up of some 360,000 Israel Defence Forces reservists includes thousands of staff and students, according to the committee, cited The Times of Israel report. About 30 per cent of all university students are among those who are now serving.

While people from all walks of life are now serving the country fighting Hamas, among other defense-related issues faced by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the reservists on the battlefield questioning him on his 32-year-old son. Israel PM’s son Yair Netanyahu is currently in Florida and has been there since April. Even after a huge number of citizen population is actively serving the armed forces in various capacities, Yair hasn’t visited the country even after the October 7 rampage.

‘Where is the prime minister's son?’

'Yair is enjoying his life at Miami Beach while I'm on the front lines,' one soldier, a volunteer serving on Israel's northern front, was quoted as saying by The Times. “It's us who are leaving our work, our families, our kids, to protect our families back home and the country, not the people who are responsible for this situation,” he said.

“Our brothers, our fathers, sons, are all going to the front line, but Yair is still not here. It does not help build trust in the leadership of the country,” he continued. Another reservist, who left his family and job and returned back to Israel from the US, leaving his job and family there, also echoed the same concern.

“There is no way I can stay there and abandon my country, my people, at this critical time. Where is the prime minister's son? Why isn't he in Israel? It is the most uniting moment for us as Israelis in our recent history and every single one of us should be here right now, including the prime minister's son,” he said.

Yair fulfilled his mandatory military service in Israel by working within the IDF's spokesman's unit after pursuing a high school education in theatre. He however didn’t take on a combat role.