World News Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu Defends Military Takeover
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the ICT's 14th International Conference on Counter-Terrorism. Flickr

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a video of himself visiting a Jerusalem café in an apparent attempt to dismiss online rumours about his health and safety. The footage, shared on his official X account on Monday, shows the leader drinking coffee and joking about speculation that had circulated widely on social media over the previous day.

Claims that Netanyahu had been injured or killed during regional military operations began spreading on several social media accounts without evidence. The rumours gained traction on platforms including X and Telegram before the Prime Minister's office responded by publishing the short video. The clip, captioned 'They say I'm what?' appeared intended to demonstrate that the Israeli leader remained active.

Despite the attempt to settle the rumours, the video quickly triggered a new round of online debate. Some users suggested the footage had been generated using artificial intelligence, arguing that aspects of the lighting and the Prime Minister's movements appeared unusual. Those claims circulated widely online before the venue where the recording took place confirmed that the visit had occurred.

'Proof of Life' Recording

In the short video, Netanyahu is seen collecting a coffee from a café counter before turning to address the camera. Holding the cup, he joked about the rumours circulating online.

'I'm dying for coffee, you know what I mean?' he said, referencing the speculation about his death.

During the recording, the Prime Minister also briefly referred to Israel's security situation, saying the country was carrying out 'very strong operations' in the region. He added that further details could not yet be disclosed publicly.

Netanyahu also urged Israelis to follow safety instructions issued by the Home Front Command, advising citizens to remain alert and stay close to protected areas during the current security situation.

AI Allegations and the Café Confirmation

Soon after the video circulated online, some social media users claimed the clip could be an AI-generated deepfake. Posts making the claim pointed to perceived inconsistencies in the video's lighting and background.

One user, Cevat Niksarli, suggested that older footage of Netanyahu recorded during the COVID-19 period may have been used to generate the video through artificial intelligence. The claim spread widely across several posts discussing the clip.

However, the Sataf Café in Jerusalem later confirmed that Netanyahu had visited the venue. In a post on Instagram, the café wrote that it had been 'very happy to host the Prime Minister and his office today,' sharing additional photos and footage from the visit.

Images showing the Prime Minister interacting with staff and customers were widely shared online and appeared to contradict claims that the video had been digitally fabricated.

Misinformation in Conflict Situations

The video appears to have been released quickly after the rumours began circulating online, suggesting it was intended to counter speculation before it spread further. By posting the footage himself, Netanyahu directly addressed claims about his health while using humour to mock the reports.

Confirmation from the Sataf Café, along with additional images shared from inside the venue, helped reinforce that the recording was genuine. While debate about the clip continues online, the café's posts and the Prime Minister's own video largely undercut claims that the footage had been artificially generated.

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