Speculation about the health and status of Benjamin Netanyahu continues to circulate online, even after his office released a new video showing him inside Israel’s high-security Kirya command centre in Tel Aviv.In the video, Netanyahu appears seated alongside senior defence officials, including military and intelligence leaders. He states that Israeli forces have recently carried out strikes against what he described as “top terrorist chieftains,” and extends greetings to the Iranian people on the occasion of Nowruz.I’m here with Israel’s Defense Minister, our Chief of Staff, the head of the Mossad, the Chief of Air Force, our senior commanders. In the past 24 hours, we knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains, the top terrorist chieftains of this tyranny.Our aircraft are hitting the… pic.twitter.com/lFJKEMvgxR— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 17, 2026“Our aircraft are hitting targets across the region… Happy Nowruz. We’re watching from above,” he says in the clip.Image credit/XImage credit/XClaims of deepfake remain unprovenDespite the video’s release, some social media users have claimed it may be AI-generated, pointing to alleged inconsistencies in lighting, reflections and room details. Others questioned the presence of certain officials in the footage.However, there is currently no credible evidence from verified sources or independent experts confirming that the video is a deepfake. Such claims remain speculative and largely driven by online commentary rather than forensic analysis.Previous appearances and ongoing rumoursThis is not the first time rumours about Netanyahu’s death have surfaced. Earlier in the conflict, similar claims spread online, often amplified by unverified sources.Netanyahu has made multiple public appearances in recent weeks, including media interviews, café visit and recorded messages, apparently aimed at countering these narratives. In one instance, he humorously addressed the rumours while appearing in a casual setting.Information war and misinformationThe situation highlights the growing role of misinformation during times of conflict. False or unverified claims—particularly those involving deepfakes—can spread rapidly across platforms, making it difficult to distinguish fact from speculation.At present, official statements from the Israeli government maintain that Netanyahu is alive and continuing to lead wartime operations. No reliable international authority has reported otherwise.אומרים שאני מה? צפו >> pic.twitter.com/ijHPkM3ZHZ— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 15, 2026