Amid ongoing rumours about his health and even his death, Benjamin Netanyahu posted a short video on his official X account Monday that rekindled online speculation. Viewers said a ring on his finger seems to vanish briefly as he moves his arm. One user wrote, “BREAKING: WHY DOES NETANYAHU’S RING DISAPPEAR AS HE MOVES HIS ARM… Is this also AI??” Another posted a slowed-down clip, claiming the footage was “100% real” after examining it frame by frame.
The clip shows Netanyahu walking outdoors in Jerusalem, speaking casually with residents, complimenting a dog and asking its breed. The video appears intended to counter the circulating death rumours amid heightened regional tension following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliatory actions.
This is not the first time footage of Netanyahu has prompted authenticity questions. Earlier material led to claims he appeared to have six fingers, and on Sunday he posted a video from a Jerusalem cafe joking, “I am dead… for coffee,” while holding up both hands to show his fingers.
Speculation had grown after unverified reports suggested he missed multiple cabinet meetings during the Iran conflict; videos showing his absence circulated online, though their timing is unclear. Israeli authorities have dismissed death claims as false, saying Netanyahu is alive, actively managing government affairs and appearing in recent photos and videos. Experts say the disappearing ring is more likely a visual artifact from motion blur, lighting or video compression than evidence of AI manipulation. The clip appears part of a broader effort to reassure the public about his well-being.
