Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took on two separate information challenges with a single compact café-filmed video posted to X this week — viral conspiracy theories about his assassination, and an AI deepfake claim about a recent press conference. The clip was confident, direct, and humorous where appropriate. It resonated strongly with domestic and international audiences alike and was widely recognized as a skillful piece of wartime communication.
Netanyahu used a Hebrew idiom to make light of the death rumors, joking that the only dying happening was over his passion for coffee. He followed this with heartfelt words of appreciation for Israelis, praising their incredible support and saying their solidarity gave the government, the military, and the intelligence services real and meaningful strength. He described their conduct throughout the crisis as a source of national pride.
He addressed the AI conspiracy directly, responding to footage from a press conference that had appeared to show him with six fingers. Netanyahu displayed both hands clearly in front of the camera and counted each finger on screen, providing a visual rebuttal that was simple, decisive, and well delivered. The moment attracted widespread coverage in international media.
He confirmed that significant Israeli operations were ongoing in both Iran and Lebanon, expressing confidence in their direction and impact without disclosing mission-sensitive details. He urged all Israelis — from private citizens to senior officials — to comply with civil defense protocols and remain near protected spaces at all times. His appeal was both practical and clearly felt.
Iran’s IRGC responded through official state media with a formal pledge to pursue and kill Netanyahu. The statement used hostile language and was framed as a military commitment. The institutional and public nature of the death threat drew sharp international condemnation and reinforced how personally dangerous the Israel-Iran conflict had become for the Israeli Prime Minister.
