Netanyahu alive, says PM’s office as viral ‘AI glitch’ video sparks death rumors

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu on March 14 dismissed viral social media claims alleging that the Israeli Prime Minister had been assassinated, saying he was “fine” and that the reports were fabricated.

The rumors surfaced online after a video posted by Netanyahu on his X account showed him addressing a press conference on the ongoing Israel–US–Iran conflict. Soon after the clip was shared, some users began speculating that the footage had been generated using artificial intelligence, fuelling conspiracy theories about the Prime Minister’s death.

Responding to a query from Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu’s office categorically rejected the claims. “These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The speculation centered on a moment in the video when Netanyahu briefly raised his right hand. At roughly the 35-second mark, a small patch of extra flesh beside his little finger led some viewers to claim it resembled a sixth finger — something they described as a typical “AI finger glitch,” often associated with artificially generated imagery.

The online debate intensified after US conservative commentator Candace Owens questioned the video’s authenticity on X. “Where’s Bibi?” she wrote, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. “Why is his office releasing and deleting fake AI videos from him, and why is there mass panic at the White House?”

Others pointed to details in the background of the clip, noting that curtains appeared to move while two Israeli flags behind Netanyahu remained largely still — something they argued could suggest digital manipulation. One user claimed the curtain “moves in the exact same pattern throughout the entire video, almost like it’s looping.”

However, several users pushed back against the claims, noting that official broadcasts frequently use digital or virtual backdrops, which can create visual inconsistencies in recorded footage.

Tensions escalate after strikes on Iran

The rumors emerged amid rapidly escalating hostilities in the Middle East. Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, an operation that killed Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a wider regional conflict.

Since then, Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and several neighboring countries it accuses of hosting US military assets.

Strait of Hormuz shutdown disrupts energy flows

In a major escalation, Iran has also closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime energy routes.

The narrow waterway typically carries around 20 million barrels of oil shipments each day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade. Its closure has disrupted shipping across the Gulf and heightened concerns about global energy supply stability as the conflict deepens.