Rumors that Netanyahu was replaced by AI videos debunked

In short: Viral posts claimed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was killed or replaced by AI-made videos, but his office and fact-checkers said the claims were false.

What's going on

Rumors spread widely on social media around March 14 to 16, 2026, during rising Israel-Iran tensions. Some posts claimed Netanyahu had been killed or injured, and that new videos of him were “deepfakes” (computer-made videos that can copy a person’s face and voice).

One popular clip showed Netanyahu at a podium, and some viewers said his right hand appeared to have six fingers. Fact-checkers and xAI’s Grok chatbot said this was an optical illusion caused by camera angle and lighting, and that the hand shape looked like a pointing gesture distorted by the video.

A second clip, posted March 15 on Netanyahu’s official X account, showed him in a coffee shop joking, “I am dead for coffee.” The joke was meant to mock the death rumors, but it fueled more speculation. Users pointed to supposed “anomalies,” including a coffee level that looked unchanged, odd mouth timing, and small visual glitches.

Netanyahu later posted another video showing both hands with ten fingers. His office also called the death and injury claims “fake news,” and said he remains active and leading.

What to watch

This episode shows how easy it is for normal video quirks to look suspicious when people already expect deception. In tense news moments, screenshots and short clips can spread faster than careful checks. Fact-checkers recommend relying on verified statements and multiple trusted outlets, not viral posts built around a single blurry frame.

Source: The Verge AI