Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in a new video message to wish the people of Iran a happy holiday season, as rumours about his alleged death intensified. In the video, he focused on themes of hope and victory of good over evil, which many saw as an attempt to counter speculation about his health and safety.
“To the brave people of Iran, I wish you, as I do every year, a happy holiday season, beginning with the Festival of Lights,” Netanyahu said. He connected the meaning of the festival to the current tensions in the region.
“It signifies the age-old belief of the Iranian people that light will triumph over darkness, that good will triumph over evil,” he added.
He also extended greetings for the Persian New Year, saying, “I take this opportunity to wish you a happy Nowruz—a year of freedom. A new beginning of hope to all of you.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 16, 2026
To the brave people of Iran, I wish you, as I do every year a happy holiday season, beginning with the Festival of Lights.
It signifies the age old belief of the Iranian people that light will triumph over darkness, that good will triumph over evil. pic.twitter.com/PoY2Mhlg6p
Rumours Spread After Absence
Speculation about Netanyahu’s “death or injury” grew rapidly over the weekend. These rumours were driven by reports in Iranian state media and his absence from public appearances.
To counter the claims, Netanyahu released multiple videos to show that he was safe.
Café Video Aims to Dismiss Claims
In an earlier video, Netanyahu was seen sitting at a café near Jerusalem. He used humour to dismiss the rumours.
“I am dead… for coffee, you know what I mean?” he joked, using a Hebrew expression to show his love for coffee. He added, “I love my people to death and how they are conducting themselves.”
To further prove the video’s authenticity, he raised all ten fingers, responding to online conspiracy theories that suggested a previous video showed an AI-generated version of him.
Social Media Remains Divided
Despite these efforts, many users online remain unconvinced. Some pointed to claims that Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok initially labelled the café video as “100% AI-generated,” highlighting issues like lip-sync errors and unusual visual details.
Although officials and independent verifications have confirmed that the video is real, doubts continue to circulate on social media.
One user summed up the mood by saying: “In 2026, I don’t believe a video of my own mother unless she’s holding today’s newspaper.”
This is also fake…. What does everyone think? 🤷🏻♂️
— Freed Ninja (@freezymfe) March 16, 2026
The first sign that i noticed was the left ears moving in an odd way.
Also notice how he doesn’t have any wrinkles on his forehead….
This is a comparison of a video shot live from the same place but on June 16, 2025 with ABC… pic.twitter.com/gUj3Tgw7xh
Israel Dismisses Claims
Netanyahu’s office has rejected the rumours, calling them propaganda from Iran. Officials insist that the videos clearly show he is alive and continuing to lead.
Overall, while the videos aim to put an end to speculation, the debate online shows how misinformation and distrust continue to shape public perception in the digital age.