In the middle of a volatile Middle East conflict and an online misinformation storm, Benjamin Netanyahu has gone on the offensive, not on the battlefield, but on social media.
In a fresh video posted Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister appeared alongside US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, directly addressing bizarre conspiracy theories claiming he had been killed and replaced by AI-generated footage.
With a smirk, Netanyahu declared: "I am alive," even joking that he was "shaking hands with five fingers," a jab at viral claims that a previous image showed an extra digit. Watch the viral video below:
The clip marks the fourth time Netanyahu has publicly countered rumours about his alleged death, rumours that gained traction after a manipulated screenshot from a press conference circulated online.
Social media users claimed inconsistencies, including a supposed "sixth finger," as evidence of AI fabrication.
Standing beside Netanyahu, Huckabee added a layer of political theatre, quipping that US President Donald Trump had sent him to "make sure you were okay."
Netanyahu's response, half humour, half defiance, underscored the bizarre intersection of geopolitics and digital misinformation. But beyond the jokes, the video carried a darker undertone.
Netanyahu referenced what he described as a "punch card," revealing that "two names" had been crossed off. The remark appeared to allude to recent Israeli strikes targeting senior Iranian figures, including Ali Larijani and Gholam Reza Soleimani.
While the Israeli government has not officially confirmed the outcomes of those strikes, the statement signals an aggressive posture amid escalating hostilities.
Also read: Is Netanyahu dead? Viral video, 'six fingers' claim and injury photos ignite internet storm
The ongoing conflict, which intensified after coordinated Israeli and US strikes on Iran beginning February 28, has triggered not only military retaliation fears but also a surge in online propaganda and disinformation campaigns.
Analysts suggest that such rumours about Netanyahu's death may be part of a broader psychological warfare strategy aimed at destabilising public perception.
Israeli officials have strongly denied the claims. The Prime Minister's Office dismissed them as "fake news," while Israel's ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, publicly confirmed that Netanyahu was alive and active, calling the viral content "deliberate disinformation."
Interestingly, Netanyahu has leaned into the controversy with calculated messaging. Previous videos showed him casually visiting a café, interacting with citizens, and even joking, "I am dying for coffee… Do you want to count the number of fingers?"
The informal tone appears designed to humanise him while directly countering the surreal rumours. At the same time, Netanyahu used the latest video to highlight Israel's close coordination with Washington.
"Crossing names off the list is good," he said, "doing it shoulder to shoulder with our American friends is even better." He also reiterated accusations that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons and poses a threat not just to Israel, but to American cities as well.
The episode underscores how modern conflicts are no longer confined to physical battlefields. In an era of deepfakes and viral misinformation, even a sitting prime minister must repeatedly prove he is alive, sometimes with humour, sometimes with menace.
As tensions with Tehran continue to simmer, Netanyahu's digital counteroffensive shows that perception, as much as power, is now central to global politics.