Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in a video recorded at a coffee shop on the outskirts of Jerusalem, addressing viral online claims that he had been killed or gravely injured amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The footage, published Sunday on Netanyahu's Telegram account, shows the Israeli leader casually purchasing coffee and joking about the rumors that circulated widely on social media and in Iranian media outlets.
In the clip, Netanyahu is seen standing at a café counter speaking with an aide while holding a cup of coffee. During the exchange, he referenced the online speculation with a pun in Hebrew.
"I'm crazy about coffee. You know what? I'm crazy about my people," Netanyahu said in the video, responding to rumors suggesting he was dead.
The rumors spread quickly across social media networks after initial claims appeared in Iranian state media, amplifying speculation during a period of heightened tension between Israel and Iran. The misinformation circulated widely online, where posts questioning Netanyahu's status gained traction during the ongoing regional crisis.
The authenticity of the footage was later verified by journalists.
According to Reuters, the interior of the café shown in the video matched a real establishment in the Jerusalem area, and social media posts from the café itself confirmed that Netanyahu visited the location on Sunday.
The episode illustrates how quickly misinformation can spread during wartime, particularly when public appearances by political leaders become less frequent.
Since the outbreak of hostilities following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, Netanyahu has maintained a relatively low public profile. While he has reportedly visited sites affected by Iranian missile strikes-including hospitals, military bases and port facilities-media access to these visits has been tightly controlled.
Israel's domestic security environment has also contributed to limited public exposure.
Emergency protocols introduced during the conflict have kept many civilians indoors or near shelters in several parts of the country. Schools have closed in multiple regions and public gatherings have been restricted as Israeli defense forces remain on high alert.
Under those conditions, even brief or informal appearances by senior officials can carry significant symbolic weight.
Netanyahu has given few public briefings during the conflict. His first press conference since the hostilities began was conducted via video link last week, following a format similar to the remote communications used during Israel's previous 12-day confrontation with Iran in June.
That limited visibility has helped fuel speculation online.
The café video therefore quickly became a focal point across social media platforms, where reactions ranged from relief among supporters to skepticism among critics.
Some users questioned whether the video could have been manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence, a concern that has grown as deepfake technology becomes more sophisticated.
