Benjamin Netanyahu Jokes About ‘Six Fingers’ Claim as Netizens Call His Video AI After Death Rumours

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded with humour after a bizarre social media theory claimed that a recent video of him was generated using artificial intelligence because it appeared to show six fingers on one hand.

The speculation began circulating online after Netanyahu shared a video on March 15 showing him visiting a café on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The clip was posted on his Telegram account and was widely interpreted as an attempt to reassure the public following rumours falsely claiming that the Israeli leader had died.

Death Rumours Trigger AI Conspiracy

The rumours reportedly began after an unverified claim linked to an earlier video speech released on March 13. Some social media users alleged that the footage was AI-generated, arguing that Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers in the video.

The conspiracy theory went further, claiming that Netanyahu had died in an Iranian attack and that the Israeli government was allegedly using an AI-generated video to hide the truth.

However, the claims quickly drew scepticism from experts, who said that such visual distortions are common in videos due to camera angles, lighting conditions and motion blur.

Netanyahu Posts Café Video to Quash Rumours

In the video posted on March 15, Netanyahu is seen drinking coffee at a café while speaking with aides. When an aide mentions the rumours about his death, Netanyahu jokingly plays on the Hebrew slang use of the word "dead," which can mean being extremely enthusiastic about something.

"I'm so into coffee I'm dead. You know that? I'm so into our nation I'm dead," he says in the clip.

At one point in the video, Netanyahu spreads out both hands, showing five fingers on each hand, seemingly to demonstrate that the footage was not AI-generated.

According to Reuters, the prime minister's visit to the café was confirmed through videos and photographs shared by the establishment itself.

However, some users pointed out that in the video shared by Netanyahu, it was claimed that the date of the receipt in the cafe was 2024.

Satirical Post Adds to the Online Joke

The episode took another humorous turn when a satirical account called "The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome" posted on X jokingly claiming that the images of Netanyahu were not AI.

The account wrote: "We confirm unequivocally that recent images of Netanyahu are NOT AI. He has always had six fingers."

Netanyahu himself responded playfully to the post, commenting: "You raised a finger here 🤔."

Experts Dismiss AI Claims

Digital media experts say such rumours are common whenever unusual visual artifacts appear in videos or photos. Factors like camera perspective, compression and lighting can sometimes make fingers appear distorted or duplicated.

With the café visit confirmed by independent reporting and images, the claims that the video was AI-generated or linked to Netanyahu's alleged death have been widely dismissed.

The episode highlights how quickly misinformation and AI-related conspiracy theories can spread online, even when the underlying evidence is easily explained.