New Netanyahu Video Shows Five Fingers - Yet AI Conspiracy Theories Keep Spreading
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| Netanyahu Appears in New Video, but AI Rumors and Assassination Theories Refuse to Die |
A new video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released on Sunday was meant to put an end to rumors about his alleged assassination. Instead, it has fueled a new wave of speculation online.
The short clip, filmed in what appears to be a café, shows Netanyahu casually ordering coffee and joking about the drink’s calories. At one point, the camera clearly captures both of his hands, each with five fingers. Supporters say the moment was intentional, aimed at disproving viral claims that previous footage of the prime minister looked digitally altered.
Over the weekend, rumors spread across social media suggesting Netanyahu had been assassinated and replaced with AI-generated footage. Some users pointed to an earlier video in which his hand appeared distorted, claiming it showed six fingers, a common artifact in poorly generated AI imagery.
The Sunday video appeared to address that claim directly. In several close-up shots, Netanyahu’s hands are visible as he gestures and lifts his drink. Israeli officials and supporters quickly shared the clip, saying it proves the prime minister is alive and well.
But the video has not convinced everyone.
Across platforms like X and TikTok, skeptics continue to argue that the footage looks unusual. Some users say the camera framing feels staged, focusing heavily on Netanyahu’s face and hands. Others claim his forehead appears unusually large or that his clothing looks layered in a way they associate with body doubles.
“These close-up shots are meant to convince people he’s alive,” one user wrote. “But it just raises more questions.”
Several posts also suggested that subtle visual inconsistencies could indicate the clip was created or modified using artificial intelligence. None of those claims have been verified, and experts caution that compression, lighting, and camera angles can easily create misleading visual effects.
So far, there is no credible evidence that Netanyahu has been harmed or replaced by AI-generated footage. Israeli government channels continue to publish statements and appearances attributed to the prime minister.
Still, the debate highlights how quickly rumors can spread in the age of AI and social media. Even a video intended to shut down speculation can sometimes have the opposite effect.
For now, the latest clip shows Netanyahu relaxed, joking about coffee and interacting with people around him. Whether it settles the online conspiracy theories, however, is another question entirely.
