Benjamin Netanyahu posts video proving he’s alive but internet conspiracy theorists are certain it’s AI

For the past few days the internet has been abuzz with rumors that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was killed or injured in a missile strike. The rumors seemed to stem from Iranian State Media but recent footage showing Netanyahu in a coffee shop in Jerusalem aimed to put the rumors to bed, of course, not everyone is convinced.

A few years ago, video footage would have been enough for proof-of-life. But in this day and age that’s easy to fake with the use of photorealistic A.I. videos and that is exactly what internet conspiracy theorists believe is going on with the recent footage of Netanyahu.

How did the rumor start?

Iranian news had reported that the Israeli Prime Minister may have been killed or seriously injured sometime around March 10th. While official sources in Jerusalem denied the rumors the Prime Minister wasn’t seen in public for a while and he was even absent from a “war council” meeting for the first time ever on March 14th.

The reports from the Iranian media coupled with Netanyahu’s sudden absence caught people’s attention across the globe as people began believing that the Israeli Prime Minister might actually be injured or even dead. Videos posted to TikTok and other social media sites perpetuated the rumor despite there being little evidence to back up the claim.

In response, Netanyahu shared a clip of him getting a coffee while making light of the rumors regarding his death.

You’d think that the recent footage would finally put the rumors to bed but many are convinced it’s a cover-up from the Israeli government.

Is that an A.I. Benjamin Netanyahu?

The footage of Netanyahu has only started a fresh conspiracy theory, that being that all the footage of him is A.I. generated, or at least edited with A.I. 

While the Israeli PM challenged viewers to count his fingers, likely anticipating the A.I. claims, netizens have been analyzing every frame of the most recent video with a fine tooth comb. Little details like the way the coffee in the cup seems to be full to the brim but when Netanyahu moves it and the liquid sloshes about, none of it spills out. Another example is the way the opening of his jacket pocket seems to move as he puts his hand inside.

Others have proved how easy it is to make such a video with A.I. One person even recreated the whole thing with the Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in place of Netanyahu to prove a point.

Of course, none of this is definitive proof that the footage of Netanyahu is fake. The PM continues to post on X like normal but people are watching closely for any signs of A.I. manipulation.