Netanyahu Video Sparks Debate After Death Rumors Circulate

A video shared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his official X account on Sunday has sparked debate online after rumors about his death began circulating on social media.

In the video, Netanyahu appears sitting at the “The Sataf” café in the Jerusalem hills, ordering coffee. The clip was apparently intended to show that he is alive amid the growing speculation.

However, shortly after the video was posted, controversy emerged. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency and several other outlets claimed the footage could be a deepfake created using artificial intelligence. Others, meanwhile, view the video as clear evidence that Netanyahu is alive.

Some social media users also claimed that the artificial intelligence chatbot Grok had identified the video as a deepfake. But upon verification, that claim appears to be inaccurate. According to Grok’s analysis, the video is more likely to be authentic.

Analysts say that amid the ongoing war situation, Netanyahu may have felt compelled to release such a video to counter the rumors about his death. In the clip, he can be heard saying, “I’m dying for coffee.” When the cameraperson asks him about the rumors of his death, he responds jokingly, “Want to count fingers? Here you go, and here you go—see?” Later, raising his coffee cup, he says, “Lechaim, to life.”

Previously, another video involving Netanyahu had also triggered controversy after some viewers claimed his left hand appeared to show six fingers.

Even after the release of the new video, some users pointed out what they believe are unusual details. According to them, despite the coffee cup appearing full, not a single drop spilled when Netanyahu moved his hand. They also noted that after he took a sip, the level of coffee did not seem to change, and the foam on top remained undisturbed.

Some observers interpret these details as possible signs of a deepfake. Others argue that such effects could simply be due to video compression, lighting reflections, or the thick foam typical of latte-style coffee.

According to Grok’s analysis, the video is not a deepfake and is more than 95 percent likely to be genuine.

The analysis also noted that the video was published from Netanyahu’s verified official account. Additionally, several international media outlets—including Reuters, The Jerusalem Post, and India Today—have cited the video as evidence that he is alive. So far, no major fact-checking organization has declared the footage to be fake.