Viral social media claims alleging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s death have been debunked by officials and fact-checkers, who confirmed he is alive and active. The rumours, fuelled by AI-generated images and a misinterpreted ‘six fingers’ video, emerged amid Israel’s war with Iran. Authorities urge the public to rely on verified sources as misinformation spreads rapidly during the conflict.
The death rumours began after a March 12 video of Netanyahu was claimed to be AI-generated due to an apparent ‘six fingers’ anomaly. Fact-checkers including Grok and PolitiFact confirmed he has five fingers on each hand, attributing the illusion to camera angles, lighting, and gesture. Similar AI-generated fake images showing him injured in rubble were also flagged and debunked by credible outlets such as Snopes and The Jerusalem Post. 1234
In the contemporary landscape of international relations, information has become an instrument of power on a par with economic and military might. However, information possesses a unique characteri...