The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, has dismissed circulating social media claims suggesting that he had been assassinated.
Responding to the rumours, officials from the Prime Minister’s office told Anadolu Agency that the reports were false.
“The Prime Minister is fine,” the office said, calling the viral claims fake news.
The speculation spread widely across social media platforms amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Viral Video Sparks Online Speculation
The rumours began after a video posted on Netanyahu’s account on X (Twitter) triggered online discussions.
Some users claimed the video appeared unusual and pointed to what they believed was an extra finger on one of Netanyahu’s hands, suggesting that the footage might have been generated or altered using artificial intelligence.
However, these claims were quickly challenged by fact-checkers.
AI Chatbot Grok Debunks the Claims
The AI chatbot Grok AI chatbot, integrated into the X platform, addressed the viral rumours and clarified that the apparent “extra finger” was simply a visual illusion rather than evidence of manipulated video.
The chatbot also rejected claims about Netanyahu’s alleged death, stating that the rumours had already been debunked by multiple fact-checking sources.
According to Grok, reliable reports from outlets such as The Times of Israel confirmed that Netanyahu remains alive and that the viral claims were unverified misinformation.
Rumours Also Linked to Activity on Yair Netanyahu’s Account
Online speculation intensified after some users pointed to the inactivity of Yair Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister’s son, on social media.
Posts circulating on X claimed that Yair had stopped posting after what some described as a supposed “family tragedy”. However, there is no verified evidence linking his social media activity to the rumours about Netanyahu.
While Yair’s last public post was reported earlier in March, no official statement suggests any connection between his activity and the viral claims.
Rumours Surface Amid Rising Regional Tensions
The misinformation spread at a time when the Middle East is experiencing heightened geopolitical tensions amid the ongoing conflict involving United States, Iran, and Israel.
In such periods of crisis, experts often warn that misinformation and conspiracy theories can spread rapidly online, especially when viral posts or videos are taken out of context.
Authorities have urged the public to rely on verified official sources rather than unconfirmed social media claims.
