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‘Suffocating’: Netanyahu ridiculed for health excuse amid Gaza crimes, corruption trial
In a dramatic moment where the personal met the political, 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim of “a persistent case of bronchitis” quickly ignited a storm of ridicule and anger across social media.
Netanyahu requested leniency from the court to shorten his testimony in corruption cases, saying, “The pain is suffocating me.” However, online communities in the Arab and Palestinian world immediately drew a stark comparison between his words and the attacks on Gaza, turning his personal health issue into a symbolic trial of his alleged war crimes.
Read more: Netanyahu suffering from bronchitis, asks judge in corruption trial to shorten testimony
Courtroom Drama: Between Illness and Skepticism
The timing of Netanyahu’s health announcement was sensitive. The prime minister faces charges of bribery and fraud, while also standing accused globally of moral responsibility for the devastating war in Gaza.
His request to shorten his testimony raised suspicions, as it follows a pattern of health announcements coinciding with political or legal crises. Many questioned whether this “bronchitis” was merely another tactic to delay justice.
Dark Humor and Online Ridicule
Netanyahu received little sympathy online. Social media users quickly turned his complaint into a weapon against him. One widely shared post read: “Netanyahu asked to shorten his testimony today… ‘I suffer from a bronchial inflammation that refuses to calm.’ May your inflammation do the job.”
Comments evolved into a form of “poetic justice,” wishing for the ailment to act against him rather than offering him relief. Satirical cartoons spread rapidly, while others drew direct, angry parallels between his words and the suffocation of the Palestinian people. One user wrote: “He’s the one choking the entire Palestinian population.”
From Mockery to Political Outrage
The online reaction quickly shifted from satire to political fury, as activists used the health claim to highlight the scale of alleged war crimes. Many commenters suggested that Netanyahu’s bronchitis is “far less than he deserves.”
Other users compared Netanyahu’s minor ailment with the horrific injuries sustained by children in Gaza due to 'Israeli' aggression which left nearly 70,000 killed, sparking widespread outrage and criticism.
