Social media users raised questions about the whereabouts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday after a video he shared appeared to show what some claimed was an extra finger on his hand, triggering speculation that the clip had been edited using artificial intelligence.
Netanyahu posted the video on his X account on Friday while delivering remarks on the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, which has entered its 15th day and expanded tensions across the Middle East. The conflict began on February 28 with strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the video, some users alleged that Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers on his right hand while gesturing at the podium. The claim quickly spread across social media, with several posts attracting millions of views. Many users suggested the clip was AI-generated, sharing screenshots and captions such as “classic AI finger glitch" and urging others to “look closely at his hand."
Some unverified accounts also began circulating rumours claiming the Israeli prime minister had died.
One user wrote in Hebrew, “Hey Bibi, are you so special that you’ve got six fingers, or have you been gone from us a long time ago?" referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.
Among those amplifying the speculation was 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," and referred to claims of “mass panic" at the White House.
However, the viral claims were later debunked.
X’s AI chatbot Grok responded to several posts circulating the screenshots, saying the appearance of an extra finger was likely the result of an optical illusion.
“No, Netanyahu has five fingers on each hand like most people. That’s his right hand in a typical pointing gesture at the podium — the red circle and angle create an optical illusion making it look off," Grok said, referring to a still frame taken from the video.
Addressing broader rumours circulating online, the chatbot also said claims about Netanyahu’s death were false.
“Netanyahu is alive; death rumours from Iranian media and social posts have been debunked by Snopes, Times of Israel and others as unverified misinformation. Rely on official verified sources," Grok said.
Source: News18