Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a video from a cafe to dispel viral social media rumors claiming he had passed away. In the footage, the 76-year-old leader is seen drinking coffee and joking about his health, specifically addressing 'finger-counting' theories often used to identify AI-generated deepfakes. The response follows a direct threat from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who recently vowed to target the long-serving politician.
Death Rumors Debunked
Netanyahu appeared in a video at a cafe to prove he is alive following widespread social media misinformation.
AI Deepfake Defense
The Prime Minister mocked theories about his fingers, a common method for spotting AI-generated videos, by showing his hands to the camera.
Iranian Threats
The rumors gained traction after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Pasdaran) publicly threatened to hunt down and kill the Israeli leader.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of himself drinking coffee at a cafe on March 15, 2026, to directly counter social media rumors claiming he had died. The video, which circulated widely online, showed Netanyahu in apparent good health and in a relaxed setting. The appearance came on the same day that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a threat to hunt down and kill him, according to ANSA. Netanyahu used the cafe setting to address the rumors with humor, turning what could have been a security-sensitive moment into a public relations response aimed squarely at online speculation.
Netanyahu jokes about fingers and dying for coffee In the video, Netanyahu addressed specific social media theories about his physical appearance, including speculation about his fingers, according to La Repubblica and 20 minutos. „Do you want to count how many fingers I have?” — Benjamin Netanyahu via La Repubblica He also deployed a wordplay joke to dismiss the death rumors. „I would die for a coffee, just as I would die for my people” — Benjamin Netanyahu via Stirile ProTV The Observador and BFMTV reported a similar formulation, with Netanyahu saying he was "dying... for a coffee," a phrasing that directly mocked the false reports of his death. The video was posted on social media and quickly drew attention across multiple European and Israeli news outlets, which reported on it within hours of its publication.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard threat issued same day Earlier on March 15, the Pasdaran issued a statement threatening to hunt down and kill Netanyahu, according to ANSA. The threat added a sharp backdrop to Netanyahu's lighthearted cafe video, which appeared hours after the Iranian statement was published. The juxtaposition of a direct military threat from a state-linked force and a social media rebuttal video illustrated the dual pressures Netanyahu faced on the same day. No further details about the specific content or context of the Iranian threat were provided in the available reporting beyond the statement itself.
Death rumors spread through social media before video response The false reports of Netanyahu's death spread through social media platforms before his video response, according to multiple outlets including Polsat News and BFMTV. The rumors appear to have included AI-generated or digitally manipulated content, with theories about Netanyahu's physical appearance — including his fingers — circulating online, as reported by La Repubblica and 20 minutos. Netanyahu's decision to film himself in a public cafe setting, rather than issue a written statement, was a deliberate choice to provide visual proof of his presence and health. The video was reported on by outlets across Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Romania, and Poland, reflecting the wide reach of both the original rumors and the rebuttal. Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022 and is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, according to his public record.
Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, making him Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Relations between Israel and Iran have been marked by sustained hostility, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps playing a central role in that confrontation. Threats and counter-threats between Israeli and Iranian officials and military figures have been a recurring feature of the broader regional conflict.