Rumours about Benjamin Netanyahu’s health and even reports of his death continue to circulate online, despite no credible evidence supporting them.
Netanyahu’s office released a video on March 18 showing him at Israel’s high-security Kirya command centre in Tel Aviv. In the footage he sits with senior defence and intelligence officials, discusses military operations and offers Nowruz greetings to the Iranian people. “Our aircraft are hitting targets across the region… Happy Nowruz. We’re watching from above,” he says in the clip.
A day earlier, on March 17, he was shown in another official engagement meeting with the United States Ambassador, further indicating his active role in government affairs. In that appearance he tweeted about working “shoulder to shoulder with our American friends.”
Claims that the video is a deepfake have appeared on social media, with some users pointing to alleged inconsistencies in lighting, reflections and room details, and questioning who appears in the footage. However, there is currently no credible verification from independent experts or trusted sources confirming the video is AI-generated; such assertions remain speculative and driven largely by online commentary rather than forensic analysis.
This is not the first time rumours about Netanyahu’s death have emerged. Similar claims have surfaced earlier during the conflict, often amplified by unverified sources. In recent weeks Netanyahu has made several public appearances — including media interviews, a café visit and recorded messages — at times addressing the rumours with humour, seemingly to counter the narratives.
The episode underscores the growing role of misinformation during conflict. False or unverified claims, especially about prominent figures and amplified by suggestions of deepfakes, can spread quickly across platforms and make it hard to separate fact from speculation.
Official statements from the Israeli government continue to assert that Netanyahu is alive and leading wartime operations. No reliable international authority has reported otherwise.
