New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed rumours circulating online that he had been killed in an Iranian strike.
He released a video on X in which he is seen joking about the death claims while sipping coffee at a cafe.
After conspiracy theories across social media over the last few days alleged that the Israeli PM had died, Netanyahu decided to respond directly to the rumours with the video aimed to show he was alive and kicking.
“I am dead… for coffee,” Natanyahu says, using a Hebrew phrase that translates to loving something to death. “You know what? I’m ‘dying’ for my people. How they are behaving is fantastic,” he adds.
Some social media posts had suggested that footage from his press conference on Thursday showed him with six fingers on one hand and was generated using artificial intelligence.
“Do you want to count my fingers? You can see them here… and here. See? Very nice,” Netanyahu says in the latest video, raising both hands to show his fingers to the camera.
Netanyahu goes on to give his message to fellow-Israelis. “Go out and get some fresh air, but stay near a protected space. Your resilience is amazing; it gives strength to me, to the government, to the IDF, and to the Mossad. We are doing things that I cannot… at this moment, but we are hitting Iran very hard, even today. Are you telling me to keep going? I tell all of you: you keep going too.”
He adds, “Continue to listen to Home Front Command instructions at all times — listen to Home Front Command and also to city mayors — to always be near a protected space. We will ease restrictions as much as possible. And thank you for the coffee, it’s excellent. I don’t know about the calories… it looks like…”
Benjamin Netanyahu found alive with 5 fingers on each hand, holding his morning coffee. pic.twitter.com/GJPNSdcuQv
— Noah (@NoahKingJr) March 15, 2026
Earlier in the day, Iran vowed to “pursue and kill” the Israeli Prime Minister after his office dismissed viral claims suggesting he had been assassinated.
