‘PM is fine’: Netanyahu’s office dismisses ‘fake’ social media claims of assassination

Amid unverified claims circulating on social media that Benjamin Netanyahu had been assassinated, the Israeli prime minister’s office dismissed the reports as “fake news” and said he is “fine”.

Rumours spread online after a video posted on Netanyahu’s X account triggered speculation among some users, with several posts claiming the Israeli leader had been killed.

However, Netanyahu’s office told Anadolu Ajansı that the claims were false. “The Prime Minister is fine,” the office said, rejecting reports that he had been assassinated.

Social media buzz over Netanyahu

Speculation intensified after some users claimed that a video posted by Netanyahu appeared to show him with six fingers on one hand, suggesting the footage was AI-generated or manipulated.

Grok responded to the claims, saying the apparent extra finger was a visual illusion rather than evidence of manipulated video.

The chatbot also dismissed rumours of Netanyahu’s death, saying the claims had been debunked by fact-checks from outlets including Snopes and The Times of Israel.

Some social media posts also claimed the Israeli prime minister’s office had posted — and then deleted — a statement addressing the rumours. Grok said those screenshots circulating online were fake and that no such post had been made.

It added that the only recent update from the official account referred to an announcement by Israel’s National Security Council.

Attention on Yair Netanyahu’s account

The rumours also drew attention to the X account of Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu.

Some users claimed his relative silence on social media signalled a “family tragedy”. One widely shared post noted that Yair, who had previously tweeted frequently, had not posted for several days.

While he last posted on March 9, there has been no evidence linking his activity to the assassination rumours. The Israeli prime minister’s office has reiterated that the claims are false.

Rumours emerge amid wider regional conflict

The speculation surfaced as tensions remain high in the Middle East following the escalating confrontation between United States, Israel and Iran.

The conflict intensified after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Ali Khamenei, prompting Iranian retaliation including missile and drone attacks on targets linked to the US and Israel across the region.

Despite ongoing hostilities, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed the war is nearing its end, saying in a post on Truth Social that Iran has been “completely decimated.”