Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu refutes rumors of his death

On March 15, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video to debunk viral social media rumors claiming he had been killed in an Iranian retaliatory strike. The speculation originated after a March 13 virtual press conference, where users alleged that visual artifacts, such as an apparent sixth finger on his hand, indicated the use of an AI-generated avatar. In the rebuttal video, Netanyahu appeared at a cafe, showing his hands to demonstrate he has ten fingers and refuting the AI conspiracy theory. The Prime Minister's office had already officially denied these claims to news agencies, including Anadolu, on March 14, characterizing the reports as fake news. During his appearance, Netanyahu also advised Israeli citizens to remain near shelters while promising to relax government restrictions on daily activities as much as possible. These rumors were primarily spread by social media accounts alleging the Prime Minister was dead, in a coma, or seriously injured following purported Iranian attacks.