Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a public appearance through a video posted on his personal Telegram account to refute rumors originating from Iran that claimed he had died. In the video, Netanyahu is seen ordering coffee at a coffee shop in Jerusalem, humorously addressing the false reports by saying, "I am dying for coffee," and lifting his hand to quip, "Want to count my fingers?" This was in response to conspiracy theories suggesting his image was AI-generated due to a visual illusion in a previous video that appeared to show him with six fingers.
According to Thai News Agency, the rumors of Netanyahu's demise were fueled by AI-generated images depicting him injured among debris, which circulated widely in Iran. These speculations were further heightened following his visit to missile-struck areas impacted by Iranian attacks, during which media access was limited, and only curated videos were released by his office. Netanyahu recently held his first press conference since the Iranian offensive began, utilizing a video link format reminiscent of the one used during the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025. During his latest video, he also spoke about the ongoing military operations against Iran and Lebanon, urging the public to adhere to safety protocols.