Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shows five fingers in new video, shuts down death claim with humor — Watch

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly dismissed viral social media claims suggesting he had died, responding with humour in a video that quickly spread online. The clip, shared on his official social media account, shows the Israeli leader holding up both hands and displaying five fingers, mocking a separate rumour that claimed he appeared to have “six fingers” in a video circulating online. The post was captioned with the phrase: “They say I’m what?”

The clarification comes as speculation and misinformation surged online amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Netanyahu responds to death rumours

The rumours claiming “Netanyahu killed” or “Netanyahu dead?” began circulating across social media platforms during a period of geopolitical tension involving Israel, Iran and the United States.


In response, Netanyahu shared a short video clip in which he raises both hands in front of the camera and clearly displays five fingers on each hand. The gesture appeared to address an online conspiracy theory suggesting the video had been artificially generated because of a supposed “six finger” anomaly, as per a report by The Times Of India.

The Israeli leader’s caption: “They say I’m what?”, was widely interpreted as a sarcastic reaction to the viral claims questioning “is Benjamin Netanyahu alive.”

His office also moved quickly to reject the rumours, calling them completely false.

Prime Minister’s office dismisses misinformation

Officials from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed that the reports circulating online were inaccurate.

When contacted about the claims suggesting “Netanyahu killed” in retaliation for recent military actions, the office told reporters that the allegations were “fake news” and that the prime minister was well.

The statement was issued as misinformation continued to spread online through reposted clips, edited footage and misleading captions suggesting that Netanyahu had been killed.

‘Six fingers’ claim fuels AI-generated video speculatio

Another unusual claim that gained traction online involved accusations that Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers on one hand in a video of a press conference.

Some social media users suggested the footage might have been created using artificial intelligence, pointing to what they believed was a visual distortion near the prime minister’s little finger.

The claim referenced a moment in the clip where Netanyahu briefly raised his hands while speaking about regional developments involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

Supporters of the theory argued that the shape of the hand resembled what they described as an AI “finger glitch,” a common visual error sometimes seen in artificially generated images or videos.

Netanyahu’s response video, showing both hands clearly with five fingers, appeared intended to directly counter those allegations.

FAQs

Is Benjamin Netanyahu alive?

Yes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alive. His office confirmed that rumours claiming he had died were false.

Why did “Netanyahu dead?” trend online?

The phrase “Netanyahu dead?” began trending after misinformation circulated on social media during regional tensions, claiming the Israeli leader had been killed.