Social media is going wild about reports claiming the death of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an Iranian airstrike.
The death rumors began after a March 12 video of Netanyahu was claimed to be AI-generated due to an apparent ‘six fingers’ anomaly. The rumors gained momentum particularly after a recent press conference, but Israeli media outlets and officials have dismissed them as false.
These claims were shared alongside videos and images of airstrikes, with some posts also referencing comments by former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter.
This picture is spreading in internet,plz @grok fact check bcz someone is saying he is Netanyahu but it can’t be true. pic.twitter.com/UeUZJgBwHW
— Jacky (@JackyShakya) March 14, 2026
Users further alleged that Netanyahu’s manner of speaking and movements in the recent press conference suggested the video was generated using artificial intelligence, even claiming that six fingers were visible in the footage.
The claims gained further traction when several American and French political figures reportedly cancelled planned visits to Israel.
However, fact-checkers including Grok and PolitiFact confirmed he has five fingers on each hand, attributing the illusion to camera angles, lighting, and gesture. Similar AI-generated fake images showing him injured in rubble were also flagged and debunked by credible outlets such as Snopes and The Jerusalem Post.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office dismissed Iranian media claims of attacks on him or his family as fake news.
