Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu mocked the death rumours and the "six fingers" claim that were doing the round on social media. In a video posted on his social media account, Netanyahu showed both his palms with five fingers, rejecting the "six fingers" claims.
"They say I'm what?" Netanyahu captioned the video.
Rumours began circulating online amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Responding to queries about the claims, the Israeli PM office said the reports were completely false.
Online misinformation and unverified claims often spread widely during conflicts, with many posts using old footage, AI-generated visuals, or misleading narratives unrelated to the actual events.
“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office told Anadolu News when asked about posts claiming Netanyahu had been killed in retaliation for recent Israeli and US strikes on Iran.
The speculation surfaced during a period of heightened regional tensions that began on February 28, when Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on targets in Iran. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,200 people and included the death of Iran’s then supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
The "six fingers" rumour gathered pace after the Israeli prime minister shared a video of a press conference on Friday addressing the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Some social media users claimed the footage was AI-generated, alleging that the prime minister appeared to have six fingers on his right hand.
In particular, users pointed to a moment around the 0:35 mark when Benjamin Netanyahu raises his hands. They argued that what looked like extra flesh near his little finger was a “classic AI finger glitch,” suggesting the video had been artificially generated.
