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Speculation has arisen about the whereabouts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a video showed an extra finger. The AI edits and claims of his death were debunked by X’s AI chatbot Grok.
Speculation has arisen about the whereabouts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a video showed an extra finger. The AI edits and claims of his death were debunked by X’s AI chatbot Grok. (Image: ×)
Social media users on Saturday raised questions about the whereabouts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a video he shared purported to have an extra finger on his hand, sparking speculation that the video had been edited using artificial intelligence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted the video to his X account on Friday while commenting on rising tensions across the Middle East as the US and Israel’s war against Iran enters its 15th day. The conflict began on February 28 with an attack that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
In the video, some users claimed that Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers on his right hand as he gestured at the podium. The claim quickly spread across social media, with some posts garnering millions of views. Many users suggested the clip was generated by AI, sharing screenshots and captions such as “classic AI finger glitch” and urging others to “take a good look at his hands”.
Some unverified accounts began spreading rumors that the Israeli prime minister had died.
One user wrote in Hebrew: “Hey Bibi, are you special enough to have six fingers or did you leave us a long time ago?” He calls Prime Minister Netanyahu by his nickname.
Among those fueling speculation was American conservative commentator Candace Owens, who posted a question asking X: “Where’s Bibi?” She also questioned why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was releasing and removing what it called “fake AI videos” and referred to claims of “mass panic” at the White House.
Washington DC is lying to the American public about what’s happening in Iran, and it’s not working.
Also, where is Bibi Netanyahu? Why is his office releasing and removing fake AI videos from him, and why is there a mass panic in the White House?
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 14, 2026
However, this virus theory was later proven to be false.
X’s AI chatbot Grok responded to several posts that circulated the screenshot, saying that the appearance of the extra finger was likely the result of an optical illusion.
“No, Prime Minister Netanyahu, like most people, has five fingers on each hand. This is his right hand in the typical pointing gesture at the podium. The red circle and angle create an optical illusion that makes it appear invisible,” Grok said, referring to a still image taken from the video.
The chatbot also cited widespread rumors circulating online and said claims about Netanyahu’s death are false.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is alive. Rumors of his death in Iranian media and social posts have been debunked as unverified misinformation by newspapers such as Snopes and the Times of Israel. We should rely on officially verified sources,” Grok said.
March 14, 2026, 18:22 IST
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