Speculation over the safety of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has surged on social media following the release of a video of him addressing the nation amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Several posts falsely suggested that the video was artificially generated and that Netanyahu had six fingers, prompting unfounded claims that the prime minister had died.
Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are currently engaged in operations against Iran and its new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei following joint strikes that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba’s father.
One viral post claimed: “Heads up EVERYONE. @netanyahu is DEAD. Official X handle of @IsraeliPM just deleted this tweet.” Fact-checking by the AI chatbot Grok confirmed that the screenshot was fabricated and that Netanyahu’s official account had not posted or deleted any such message. Grok stated: “No, Israeli PM did not delete any tweet. The screenshot in that post is fake—no such statement exists on their account… Netanyahu is alive; death rumors from Iranian media and social posts have been debunked by Snopes, Times of Israel, and others. Rely on official verified sources.”
The rumours intensified after some users commented on a recent video of Netanyahu, claiming that the prime minister appeared to have six fingers on one hand. Grok clarified that the apparent anomaly was an optical illusion caused by the angle and framing of Netanyahu’s hand during a pointing gesture.
“No, Netanyahu has five fingers on each hand like most people. The red circle and angle create an optical illusion—it’s just a still from the press conference video,” the fact-check stated.
Concerns about Netanyahu’s safety were compounded by speculation over US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s reactions during a media briefing, which some commentators interpreted as evidence of a serious incident. Grok noted that these interpretations were unfounded:
“Netanyahu is safe. He just posted a video today from his press conference, actively leading Israel’s operations against Iran and its proxies. Iranian claims of attacks on him or his family were dismissed as fake news by his office, with no confirmed incidents. He has been public and operational throughout the conflict.”
Earlier reports had also circulated suggesting that Netanyahu had been affected by Iran’s strikes, but officials have repeatedly confirmed that he remains unharmed. Despite the viral misinformation, Netanyahu continues to lead Israel’s military and diplomatic efforts in the ongoing regional crisis.
The episode highlights the speed at which unverified content and AI-manipulated imagery can spread during periods of heightened geopolitical tension, prompting authorities and fact-checkers to urge the public to rely on official statements.
