Short answer: Yes. As of August 2026, Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's sitting Prime Minister and remains the central figure directing Israel's Gaza policy, security posture, and international advocacy for the Jewish state. He continues to publicly emphasize Jewish identity and Israel's sovereignty in speeches to Jewish and international audiences.
What Benjamin Netanyahu has actually said and done
- April 21, 2026: On Israel's 78th Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzmaut), Netanyahu declared "Am Yisrael Chai!" (The People of Israel Lives) and said Israel, together with the United States, is "leading the fight against the forces of evil in the world," according to JNS.
- June 21, 2026: Addressing the JNS International Policy Summit, Netanyahu urged American and Diaspora Jews to "stand up for the truth, stand up for Israel, stand up for the Jewish people, stand up for the Jewish future" in the face of rising antisemitism, as reported by JNS.
- June 24, 2026: Netanyahu completed his testimony in his ongoing corruption trials (bribery, fraud, and breach of trust cases) after roughly 98 hearings since December 2024, with a verdict not expected until 2027, per the Manila Times (JNS/AFP wire) and confirmed by JNS.
- July 12, 2026: Netanyahu's governing coalition announced Israel's next general election will be held on October 27, 2026, the last possible date allowed, in a vote widely seen as a referendum on his leadership since October 7, 2023, according to Haaretz.
- August 3, 2026: Israel gave no public response to a new US-backed Gaza peace plan proposal while conducting a weekend of deadly strikes in Gaza, according to CNN's reporting on the standoff.
- August 4, 2026: In a video posted to social media, Netanyahu said Israel had not agreed to a US ("Board of Peace") draft plan for Hamas disarmament and Gaza withdrawal, stating "They sent us a draft. We did not agree to it, it is not our draft. We sent our comments," and insisted Israeli forces would not withdraw from current lines in Gaza until Hamas is "completely disarmed," per the Times of Israel, corroborated by the Washington Post.
Context: who Netanyahu is right now
Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's Prime Minister, currently serving his sixth term after returning to office in December 2022. He leads the Likud party and heads Israel's governing coalition. He is also a defendant in an ongoing corruption trial covering bribery, fraud, and breach-of-trust charges tied to media coverage deals and luxury gifts, though he denies wrongdoing and a verdict is not expected before 2027. Israel's next general election is set for October 27, 2026, and is widely framed by outlets like Haaretz as a referendum on his leadership since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Through mid-2026, Netanyahu has continued directing Israel's military and diplomatic posture in Gaza, publicly pushing back on elements of a US-backed "Board of Peace" disarmament and withdrawal plan that he views as too lenient toward Hamas, while trying to avoid a rupture with the Trump administration, which has backed the plan. He has repeatedly used international and Diaspora-facing platforms, including the JNS International Policy Summit and his Yom Ha'atzmaut messaging, to call on Jews worldwide to publicly support Israel and resist antisemitism.
The bottom line
Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel's sitting prime minister, remains fully engaged in Israel's security and diplomacy through August 2026. He is directing Gaza strategy, publicly resisting parts of a US-backed disarmament plan he sees as too lenient toward Hamas, and using international platforms to urge Diaspora Jews to "stand up" for Israel and Jewish identity. His record is that of Israel's chief decision-maker, not an outside supporter. There is no indication of any boycott participation, and every action found in this research places him at the center of defending Israel's security and sovereignty.
Wearing your own answer
Whatever side of Israeli politics you follow, standing with Israel is not a partisan question, it is a personal one. If Netanyahu's call to "stand up for Israel, stand up for the Jewish people" resonated with you, our I Stand With Israel collection is a simple, everyday way to say the same thing without a single word.
Related
Last updated August 2026. We update these profiles as the record changes.
