New Delhi

Benjamin Netanyahu is “very much alive”, Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said on Monday, dismissing viral social media claims questioning the Israeli leader’s health and authenticity of a recent video showing him at a cafe.

Addressing rumours circulating online, Azar said the footage shared by Netanyahu was genuine and not created using artificial intelligence.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is alive. I saw him personally when I was in Israel more than once. This video at the cafe is not AI-fabricated. There is a lot of disinformation,” he said.

The clarification comes after a wave of social media posts claimed that a recent public address by Netanyahu had been generated using AI and even speculated about his death.

The speculation intensified after Netanyahu shared a short video on X (formerly Twitter) showing him drinking coffee at a cafe. In the clip, the Israeli prime minister briefly raises his hand, appearing to show five fingers.

אומרים שאני מה? צפו >> pic.twitter.com/ijHPkM3ZHZ

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 15, 2026

Some observers interpreted the gesture as a response to earlier viral allegations that a previous video of Netanyahu contained an AI glitch, with critics claiming it showed six fingers.

The controversy began when social media users pointed to what they described as visual inconsistencies in earlier videos of the Israeli leader, suggesting the possible use of deepfake technology. Israeli diplomatic officials, however, have dismissed the claims as baseless.

READ MORE: An officer can't afford to go wrong, says top cop Ajeetha Begum

Azar said the cafe video clearly shows Netanyahu alive and active, stressing that suggestions of AI manipulation are unfounded.