Why has Israeli PM not attended last seven crucial cabinet meetings, and is Benjamin Netanyahu critically injured or really dead? Death rumors refuse to die down amid US Iran war

Why has Israeli PM not attended last seven crucial cabinet meetings, and is Benjamin Netanyahu critically injured or really dead? The question has spread on social media during the Israel-Iran conflict. Rumors about Benjamin Netanyahu’s death and injury started circulating online after videos and posts raised doubts about his safety and public appearances. The debate intensified after reports claimed that Netanyahu did not attend several cabinet meetings. At the same time, videos released by his office were examined by social media users who said the clips might be artificial intelligence content.

Why has Israeli PM not attended last seven crucial cabinet meetings, and is Benjamin Netanyahu critically injured or really dead?

Reports circulating on social media claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend several recent Israeli cabinet meetings during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Some posts suggested that he had missed seven consecutive meetings, which raised questions about his whereabouts and health. Videos of a cabinet meeting also appeared online where Netanyahu was not visible, leading many users to speculate that something had happened to him. However, there has been no official confirmation that these videos were from the latest cabinet meeting, and some reports suggested the footage could be from earlier sessions.

The speculation quickly turned into rumors that Netanyahu might have been critically injured or even killed in an air strike linked to the regional conflict. These claims spread widely across social media platforms and were repeated in posts discussing the Israel-Iran war situation. Israeli authorities have rejected the claims and said the prime minister is alive and continuing to manage government matters. Officials also stated that several videos and photos showing Netanyahu in public were released to counter the rumors and confirm that the reports about his death are false.

Claims about cabinet meeting absence and death rumors

The rumors grew after videos of an Israeli security cabinet meeting appeared online. Netanyahu was not visible in the clip, and reports claimed he had missed seven straight meetings during the ongoing war with Iran.

These claims led to speculation that Netanyahu might have been killed in an Israeli air strike or seriously injured during the conflict. However, there were no confirmed reports that a security council meeting took place that day. Some observers said the circulating videos were older recordings and not from the current meeting.

Rumors about Netanyahu’s death had already begun earlier after the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel air strike. At the same time, false claims also spread online saying Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Netanyahu’s brother Iddo were killed by Iranian missile strikes. Those reports were later denied.

Coffee shop video and AI deepfake claims

The Israeli government released a video showing Netanyahu at a coffee shop in the Jerusalem Hills. The clip showed him ordering coffee at The Sataf cafe.

In the video, Netanyahu joked about rumors of his death. He said he was “dying for coffee,” a phrase used in Hebrew to express strong liking. He also showed both hands to the camera and counted five fingers on each hand. The gesture appeared to respond to earlier claims that another video showed him with six fingers.

The video was intended to dismiss speculation. However, the clip triggered further debate when Grok, the AI chatbot from Elon Musk’s platform X, claimed the footage was “AI-generated.” The chatbot said the scenario appeared unrealistic and called it an advanced deepfake.

Social media users also posted screenshots and close-ups of the video. Some users said the coffee cup appeared to tilt in a way that defied gravity. Others said Netanyahu’s face shape changed slightly in different frames. A few users also pointed out a masked person standing behind the counter and questioned the setting.

Israeli PMO response and cafe confirmation

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office rejected the claims. The office said the rumors were fake and confirmed that the prime minister is fine.

The Sataf cafe in Jerusalem also posted photos on Instagram showing Netanyahu visiting the location. The cafe wrote that it hosted the prime minister and his team and shared images of the visit.

According to reports, the location seen in the video matched the interior of the cafe. File imagery verified the place where the video was recorded. Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian people in another video message during the conflict, wishing them a holiday connected to the Festival of Lights.

Despite these responses, social media discussions about Netanyahu’s health and whereabouts continued. The rumors were also linked to the ongoing Israel-Iran war that began in early March.

FAQs

Q1. Why has Israeli PM not attended last seven crucial cabinet meetings, and is Benjamin Netanyahu critically injured or really dead?
Rumors began after reports claimed Netanyahu missed seven cabinet meetings during the Iran conflict. Videos and social media speculation triggered questions, but Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu is alive and fine.

Q2. Why did the Benjamin Netanyahu coffee shop video create AI deepfake claims?
The video showed Netanyahu ordering coffee at a Jerusalem cafe. Social media users and an AI chatbot claimed the clip looked artificial, citing visual glitches, but the cafe and Israeli officials confirmed the visit happened.