Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video on Sunday to dismiss false rumours that he had been killed or seriously injured in an Iranian attack. The video, shared on his official social media accounts, shows Netanyahu calmly sitting at a café near Jerusalem, drinking coffee and addressing the rumours with humour.
In the short clip, Netanyahu jokes about being “dead for coffee” and raises his hands to show five fingers each, poking fun at online claims that footage of him showed a mysterious “sixth finger,” which some said proved the video was fake. The gestures were meant to reassure the public that he is alive and the conspiracy theories circulating online are false.
The rumours had gone viral amid the ongoing conflict, which began in late February with joint US–Israeli strikes targeting Iranian positions. Pro-Iran media accounts and social media posts spread unverified claims about Netanyahu’s death or injury, creating confusion and panic among followers.
While some social media users questioned whether the video had been digitally altered, Netanyahu’s office confirmed its authenticity. Reuters verified that it was filmed at a real café in Jerusalem and posted on the Prime Minister’s official channels.
The video comes at a time when Israel faces wartime restrictions: schools are closed, public gatherings are banned, and citizens are advised to stay in shelters due to ongoing missile and drone attacks from Iran. Netanyahu’s office emphasized that he is safe and urged people not to believe the false claims circulating online.
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