Amid a wave of unverified claims circulating on social media, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu rejected reports suggesting the Israeli prime minister had been assassinated. The rumours spread widely online after users shared posts and videos speculating about Netanyahu’s death. However, the Israeli leader’s office quickly dismissed the claims and clarified that the reports were false. According to the prime minister’s office, the speculation was simply misinformation. Officials told Anadolu Ajansı that the claims were “fake news” and added that “The Prime Minister is fine.”

Video Post Triggers Online Speculation

The online buzz reportedly began after Netanyahu shared a video on his account on X. Some users claimed the video looked unusual and suggested it might have been created or altered using artificial intelligence. A few social media posts even argued that the Israeli leader appeared to have six fingers on one hand in the clip.

These observations triggered conspiracy theories, with some people suggesting that the footage was manipulated. However, X’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok responded to the claims and said the unusual appearance was simply a visual illusion rather than proof of AI manipulation.

AI Chatbot Dismisses Death Rumours

Grok also addressed the wider rumours about Netanyahu’s alleged assassination. The chatbot said there was no credible evidence supporting such claims.

It explained: "Netanyahu is alive; death rumors from Iranian media and social posts have been debunked by Snopes, Times of Israel, and others as unverified misinformation. Rely on official verified sources."

The AI tool also rejected another claim circulating online that Netanyahu’s office had posted a statement confirming the rumours and then deleted it. According to Grok, this claim was also incorrect. It said the screenshot circulating on social media was fabricated.

The chatbot further noted that Netanyahu’s official account had not issued any such message. It added that the most recent post on the account was related to an announcement from the National Security Council.

Attention Turns to Yair Netanyahu’s Account

The speculation grew further when users began discussing the activity of Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, on X.

Some social media accounts claimed that Yair had stopped posting after the alleged incident. This sparked rumours that the pause in his activity was linked to a “family tragedy”.

One user wrote: “Rumors of the Bibi pack are gaining traction. It’s been 5 days since Yair Netanyahu has posted to his X feed. Prior to that, he was tweeting 30-40 times per day.”

While it is true that Yair’s last post on X was on March 9, there is no evidence connecting the pause in activity to the rumours. Officials have already denied the assassination claims and confirmed that Netanyahu is safe.

Rumours Spread During Wider Regional Conflict

The misinformation has surfaced at a time of growing instability in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The war began after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran, which reportedly led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran later responded with retaliatory attacks. These included missile strikes on Tel Aviv and assaults on US-linked bases across the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Trump Says War Is Nearly Over

Despite the continuing conflict, Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the fighting could end soon. The US president has claimed that the war is “almost” over and indicated that there are few remaining targets for American forces in Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump recently said that Iran had been “completely decimated.” However, the situation across the region remains volatile as hostilities continue and misinformation spreads widely on social media platforms.