Viral Video of Netanyahu Sparks AI Manipulation Claims, Fact-Checkers Debunk Rumours

Social media users raised questions about the whereabouts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a video he shared online appeared, to some viewers, to show what looked like an extra finger on his hand — a visual anomaly that quickly fuelled speculation that the clip had been altered using artificial intelligence.

Netanyahu posted the video on his account on X on Friday while delivering remarks on the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. The war, now in its 15th day, has intensified tensions across the Middle East. The conflict began on February 28 with strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In the video, some social media users claimed that Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers on his right hand while gesturing at a podium. Screenshots highlighting the alleged anomaly circulated widely across social platforms, with several posts garnering millions of views. Many users suggested the footage had been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence, with captions referring to what they described as a “classic AI finger glitch.”

The speculation soon expanded beyond the visual claim, with some unverified accounts circulating rumours that the Israeli prime minister had died.

One user, writing in Hebrew, questioned the unusual appearance in the video and referred to Netanyahu by his widely used nickname, “Bibi.”

The speculation was further amplified by American conservative commentator Candace Owens, who posted on X asking, “Where’s Bibi?” She also questioned why Netanyahu’s office was allegedly releasing and deleting what she described as “fake AI videos,” while referencing claims circulating online about “mass panic” at the White House.

However, the claims were later widely debunked.

Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot integrated into X, responded to several posts containing the screenshots and explained that the apparent extra finger was most likely the result of an optical illusion caused by the camera angle and hand positioning.

“No, Netanyahu has five fingers on each hand like most people,” Grok said in one response. “That’s his right hand in a typical pointing gesture at the podium — the framing and angle create an optical illusion that makes it appear unusual.”

Addressing the broader rumours circulating online, the chatbot also dismissed claims regarding Netanyahu’s alleged death.

It noted that the rumours — some originating from Iranian media outlets and social media posts — had been debunked by fact-checking organisations and news outlets, including Snopes and The Times of Israel, which reported that the claims were unverified misinformation.

Officials and fact-checkers have urged the public to rely on credible and verified sources when assessing viral claims circulating on social media platforms.