Is Benjamin Netanyahu Alive? Israel PM's Absence from Cabinet Meeting Sparks More Death Rumours

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's absence from seven consecutive cabinet meetings has renewed speculation on social media about his well-being, with some users claiming the Israeli leader may have died during the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Netanyahu's office has dismissed the claims, issuing a statement confirming he is 'fine' and describing the death rumours as false.

A video of Netanyahu sipping coffee was released in an apparent attempt to address the speculation. In the clip, he was asked directly to comment on the death rumours to prove the footage had been filmed recently. But even that did not put the matter to rest for those convinced by the online claims.

Seven Missed Cabinet Meetings

Reports that Netanyahu missed seven consecutive cabinet meetings were the primary trigger for the latest wave of speculation. Footage from an older cabinet meeting was circulated online this week alongside the reports, and social media users pointed to his absence as evidence that something was wrong. Netanyahu's office has not provided a specific explanation for the missed meetings.

Cabinet meetings are a routine fixture of Israeli government business, and the seven consecutive absences were notable enough to draw attention even from those not predisposed to conspiracy theories.

Deepfake Claims and the Six-Finger Video

Social media users also raised concerns about a video in which Netanyahu addressed the nation, with some claiming the footage had been generated using deepfake or AI technology after appearing to show six fingers on one of his hands rather than five. When some users asked AI platform Grok whether the coffee video was genuine, the platform said it could have been AI-generated, a response that added momentum to the speculation. Grok later appeared to walk back that assessment in response to a separate prompt.

In another video, Netanyahu was seen posing with two women and speaking briefly with a man. Some social media users noted he was not wearing a ring, which they cited as further grounds to question whether the footage was real.

The Official Denial

Netanyahu's office has been direct in its response. A statement confirmed the prime minister is well and described the death rumours as false. The statement has not satisfied those convinced by the online speculation, with some social media users continuing to ask why Netanyahu has not made a live public appearance to address the claims directly. Some have gone further, calling on his team to arrange a verifiable live appearance rather than relying on pre-recorded footage that can be questioned.

Others have pushed back on the conspiracy theories on their own terms. One user on X argued that if Netanyahu had been killed, Israel's military response would have been immediate and severe. 'It's an asymmetric war. Iran always hits Tel Aviv so why would he live there? If he had been killed, Israel would have defo used nukes by now. Israel wouldn't be wasting ammunition in Lebanon,' the user wrote, adding that the absence of any such escalation was itself evidence that the prime minister remained alive.