NEWS
Netanyahu Breaks Silence with Café Video, Mocks Death Rumours Amid Escalating Israel–Iran War
Benjamin Netanyahu has released a video message addressing swirling conspiracy theories about his alleged death following an Iranian strike, using humor and reassurance to dismiss the claims while urging Israelis to remain resilient as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.
The Israeli leader posted the video on the social media platform X after widespread speculation circulated online suggesting that he had been killed during the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.
In the clip, Netanyahu appears relaxed at a café, where he is seen ordering coffee and playfully responding to the rumours that had spread across social media platforms.
“I am dead… for coffee,” he said, using a Hebrew phrase that roughly translates to loving something to death. “You know what? I’m “dying” for my people. How they are behaving is fantastic,” he added.
The video quickly drew attention online as Netanyahu attempted to directly debunk claims questioning whether recent footage of him had been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
During the recording, the Israeli prime minister raised both hands toward the camera, deliberately displaying his fingers in an apparent effort to counter the viral allegation that a previous video had shown him with six fingers on one hand.
Earlier, some posts on social media had suggested that footage from his Thursday press conference showed him with six fingers on one hand and was generated using artificial intelligence.
“Do you want to count my fingers? You can see them here… and here. See? Very nice,” Netanyahu said.
Beyond addressing the rumors, Netanyahu also used the moment to send a message of encouragement to Israeli citizens as the conflict with Iran continues to intensify.
In his message to the Israeli citizens, Netanyahu said, “Go out and get some fresh air, but stay near a protected space. Your resilience is amazing; it gives strength to me, to the government, to the IDF, and to the Mossad. We are doing things that I cannot… at this moment, but we are hitting Iran very hard, even today. Are you telling me to keep going? I tell all of you: you keep going too.”
He added, “Continue to listen to Home Front Command instructions at all times—listen to Home Front Command and also to city Mayors to always be near a protected space. We will ease restrictions as much as possible. And thank you for the coffee, it’s excellent. I don’t know about the calories… it looks like…”
The development comes against the backdrop of escalating rhetoric and threats between Israel and Iran, as the conflict between the two nations enters its 16th day.
Earlier, Iran on Sunday vowed to “pursue and kill” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,“ Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The statement underscores the deepening hostilities between Israel and Iran following recent military developments in the region.
The war escalated dramatically after the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran last month. The attacks reportedly killed Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, a development that triggered a broader confrontation across the Middle East and intensified fears of a wider regional conflict.
As tensions continue to rise, Netanyahu’s video appears aimed at both dismissing misinformation circulating online and rallying Israeli citizens amid an increasin
gly volatile security situation.