Excitement on social media: Rumors surrounding the death of the Israeli prime minister culminate in Netanyahu being replaced by an AI. A fact check.
March 18, 2026, 04:39March 18, 2026, 04:39
Sometimes Benjamin Netanyahu is supposed to have six fingers on his hand in a video, sometimes a cash register behind the Israeli Prime Minister is supposed to prove that the scene shown is several years old. Claims like these about recently circulated recordings of the prime minister give rise to speculation on social media: Netanyahu is actually long dead, and his state of health is at least uncertain. The fact that there are still pictures of him is only thanks to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). But none of this stands up to a fact check.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged death is being concealed using AI, according to online rumors.Image: screenshot x
Following rumors about the health of Iran’s new supreme leader, Moschtaba Khamenei, similar speculation about Israel’s prime minister is now making the rounds online. Rumors about Netanyahu’s serious injury or even death are being spread on social networks by the Tasnim news agency.
The state-affiliated institution uses evidence such as postponements of appointments, increased security precautions and an alleged lack of current image material as supposed evidence. The “Jerusalem Post” therefore reports on a disinformation campaign by Iranian state media.
In recent recordings from Tuesday, Netanyahu once again mocked speculation about his death on his X account. In a video he can be seen with the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. He says with a hearty laugh that US President Donald Trump asked him to make sure that Netanyahu is doing well. “Yes, Mike, yes, I’m alive,” the Israeli head of government replies with a smile.
Another recent recording of Netanyahu was also distributed on Tuesday by the official account of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office via X. It shows the Prime Minister talking on the phone.
Speculation about the number of fingers of Netanyahu
The latest speculation on social networks was triggered by a speech by Netanyahu on March 12, 2026, which was published on the Israeli Prime Minister’s YouTube channel. Users on social networks want to count on six fingers and in the same breath predict the whereabouts of the Prime Minister.
The exact excerpt that goes viral can be seen in the first minute of the video. Netanyahu gestures with both hands and extends his index fingers. Meanwhile, in the video, a shadow forms for a brief moment on a crease on the side of his hand. In fact, five fingers can be seen in the video. International fact-checking organizations have also dealt with the topic.
Netanyahu contradicts, new rumors arise
The Prime Minister initially countered the speculation with a video that was recorded in an Israeli café and published on his official X account on Sunday. In it he grabs a cup of cappuccino, turns to the camera and says: “They say on the internet that the Prime Minister is dead? I’m dying for coffee.” Then he spreads the fingers of both hands to show that he actually only has ten and sips his coffee.
However, on social networks, users also doubt the credibility of this recording and allege that it is old or AI-generated images. As evidence, an image is cited that supposedly shows the café cash register screen from the published video, including a date stamp from 2024. But that isn’t true either. US fact checkers created a high-resolution screenshot of the video. For a brief moment, the date on the cash register screen is clear enough to read. It says “03/15/2026”.
It cannot be ruled out that AI was still used in the video from the café. Smartphone cameras now also have the technology to create depth of field effects. The main subject usually appears effectively sharp, while the background is broken up into soft, often circular points of light. Errors can lead to artifacts on the object edges, such as blurred contours or unnatural transitions. In the video from the café it seems as if such an AI function was used. However, as a graphic element – and not to conceal the supposed death of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sources used:
- dpa news agency (Marc Fleischmann)