'I’m Alive': Netanyahu Shares Video With US Envoy to Dismiss Death Rumours

Israel: Amidst the Iran-Israel tension, suddenly news started spreading on social media that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has died. Some viral posts and edited pictures fueled these rumours. In particular, a video was claimed to have been created by AI and a “sixth finger” was visible in it.

How did Netanyahu respond to these rumors?

Netanyahu himself came forward to refute all these claims. He released a new video on Tuesday, in which he was seen with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. In the video, he clearly said with a smile, “I am alive,” and then jokingly added, “We use only five fingers each while shaking hands.”

What was seen in the video and what was the conversation?

In this video, Netanyahu and Huckabee are seen walking and talking together. Huckabee said in a light tone that US President Donald Trump had sent him to see if the prime minister was okay or not. To this Netanyahu replied, “Yes, I am absolutely alive.” A funny conversation continued between the two for some time.

Was the video just a joke or did it also have a strong message?

Although part of the video was light-hearted, Netanyahu also gave serious hints in the middle. “Today I removed two names,” he said, linking them to recent attacks by Israel. It is believed that this statement was a reference to the attacks on senior Iranian officials, whose death was later confirmed by the Iranian side.

Had Netanyahu given such reactions before also?

This is not the first time Netanyahu has responded to rumors. In recent times, several videos of him have surfaced—sometimes in cafes, sometimes in meetings with officials—where he has been showing himself in public and proving these claims wrong. In one video, he jokingly said, “I feel like drinking coffee… would you like to count my fingers?”

What was said at the government level?

Israeli officials have also called these rumors completely false. The Prime Minister's Office termed these as "fake news", while a senior Israeli diplomat alleged that such misinformation was being spread by elements linked to Iran to create an atmosphere of confusion and fear.