Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to deny rumours he was dead on Tuesday, after a fortnight of silence and a blizzard of AI‑manipulated clips, faked screenshots, and speculative posts on X and Telegram claimed the Israeli prime minister had been killed during the Iran war.
For context, the online frenzy built up over the second week of fighting between Israel and Iran, as people looking for clues in half‑seen videos and unverified accounts tried to fill a very noticeable gap: Netanyahu had not been regularly visible in public. Into that vacuum poured a familiar mix of wartime propaganda, partisan wish‑casting, and opportunistic disinformation, with Iran‑linked outlets and fringe commentators all adding fuel.
