Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed rumours about his alleged death and a viral claim that he appeared with six fingers in a circulating video.
The controversy began after a clip showing the Israeli prime minister buying coffee at a café spread online, prompting conspiracy theories that the footage had been manipulated with artificial intelligence or that Netanyahu had died. Some viewers pointed to what they believed was an extra finger in the video as supposed evidence.
Fact-checks by the AI chatbot from xAI, known as Grok, and the fact-checking outlet Snopes dismissed the claim, explaining that the unusual appearance was caused by camera angles and image highlighting rather than an extra finger.
The rumours surfaced during the 15th day of tensions involving Israel, United States and Iran, highlighting how misleading narratives can spread rapidly during periods of conflict.
During the café encounter, Netanyahu jokingly responded to questions about the rumours while holding his coffee. He acknowledged hearing claims online that he had died and even invited those present to count his fingers. The Israeli leader also praised the resilience of the public and urged citizens to remain cautious while following safety guidance.
He encouraged people to get fresh air but advised them to stay close to protected shelters and to continue following instructions from authorities. Netanyahu added that the government and the military were continuing operations against Iran and in Lebanon, though he noted that many details could not be publicly disclosed.
The prime minister ended the brief interaction on a lighter note, thanking those around him for the coffee while joking about the drink’s calories.
