Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired back at viral conspiracy theories claiming he had been killed or gone missing during the ongoing Israel-Iran war, posting a humorous video on X that quickly went mega-viral.
“They say I’m what? Watch >>” Netanyahu captioned the clip, which shows him casually ordering and sipping coffee at a Tel Aviv café while chatting with an aide. In the footage, he dramatically raises both hands to the camera, clearly displaying five fingers on each — directly mocking the “six-fingers” anomaly that fueled the rumors. He even quipped in Hebrew that he is “dead for coffee,” a playful twist on the local expression for loving the beverage.
The post, shared Sunday afternoon, has already amassed over 51 million views, 123,000 likes, and tens of thousands of replies — many still skeptical, with users joking about “AI magic pockets” or gravity-defying foam.
The rumors erupted earlier this week after a widely shared video appeared to show Netanyahu with six fingers on one hand. Social media users, particularly Iran-linked accounts, claimed it was an official Israeli release that had been clumsily AI-generated — proof, they argued, that the prime minister was dead and a body double or deepfake was being used. Fact-checkers quickly determined the clip was not AI-generated from scratch but an edited version of an authentic older video with extra fingers digitally added. Despite this, the narrative exploded, with posts alleging Iranian military sources had first amplified it.
Netanyahu’s response comes at a moment when fake news about the Iran war has overwhelmed platforms. Old footage of explosions, recycled missile strikes, fabricated troop movements, and AI-generated images of destroyed cities or leaders in comas are flooding feeds. Iran’s supreme leader has also been the target of mocking AI pictures depicting him as dead or incapacitated. Poynter Institute’s recent guide warns users: “These photos are not always fake but old pictures are recirculated… it’s so important to identify fake news.”
Experts note that such disinformation disproportionately targets two groups: vulnerable users (elderly or new to social media) who may not spot edits, and biased echo chambers eager to believe the worst about opponents. Mainstream outlets and fact-checking organizations were forced to step in, confirming Netanyahu remains active and the “six-finger” video was manipulated, not genuine AI output from Israeli officials.
Even Netanyahu’s own café appearance has drawn fresh skepticism — some X users and even an AI response from Grok labeled it a possible deepfake due to minor visual glitches. Yet Israeli officials and independent verifiers maintain it is authentic, filmed during a surprise public outing to reassure the public.
As tensions with Iran continue, the episode underscores the chaotic information battlefield of modern conflict. Netanyahu’s witty rebuttal — complete with a perfect ten-finger salute and steaming latte — has not only broken the death rumor cycle but also highlighted the urgent need for caution online.
“Fake news has no form,” observers have remarked, echoing the user-provided analysis. In this age of AI, recirculated old clips, and state-backed influence ops, verifying before sharing has never been more critical. For tips on spotting fakes, Poynter’s guide remains essential reading.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, appears very much alive — and clearly enjoying his coffee.
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