Social networks have been flooded with rumors of the death of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Many users share videos of raids and either claim them or think about them.
Similar false rumors also claimed that his brother Iddo Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir were killed in the airstrikes.
“Sources indicate Netanyahu died in Iranian airstrike. Is this a true report?” wondered a social media user who shared a video of the devastating rocket attacks.
“This is what is happening inside the entity. But there is a harsh Arab-Hebrew censorship of the media. And for this reason, we ask you to repost, please God, expose the Arab Zionists. The operation is underway tonight,” another user wrote, sharing a video of the airstrikes.
What the Iranian press claims
Rumors of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s death come from Iranian state media. News publications such as Tasnim News Agency speculated that Netanyahu may have been killed or injured in the retaliatory strikes. This was after the Israeli prime minister briefly stayed out of the public eye.
Tasnim News Agency quoted Hebrew sources as saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to be dead or injured. The agency pointed to several reasons that support these rumors.
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Netanyahu did not appear in any video for almost three days. No photos have been posted for almost four days. Before this gap, at least one video was released daily, sometimes up to three. All recent statements attributed to him have been based on text only.
Adding to the suspicion, security around Netanyahu’s home was reportedly tightened on March 8 to prevent possible drone attacks. Around the same time, a planned visit to Israel by key Trump officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff was also canceled, according to Tasnim.
Furthermore, when French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Netanyahu, the Elysee Palace did not mention any date for the call, according to the Iranian news agency. It only published a text summary; no audio or video has been confirmed, he added.
“These speculations have yet to be officially confirmed or refuted,” the Tasnim agency wrote.
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‘fake news’
Israeli officials and numerous international news agencies called the claims “fake news”. Netanyahu has reportedly been active in publicly declaring the ongoing conflict.
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s office dismissed the Iranian claims about his fate as “fake news”. Netanyahu later visited the site of the deadly rocket strike in Beit Shemesh and spoke to the public, silencing the rumours, the Israeli publication added.
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It cited Iran’s Fars news agency as airing a statement from a military spokesman that Iran’s Khaybar missiles had successfully hit Netanyahu’s office and the home of Air Force Chief Tomer Bar. However, no rocket impacts were reported in Jerusalem and Netanyahu’s office remains completely untouched, the publication added.
According to the press publication, an Iranian spokesman also claimed that three American fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait. However, the US said the plane was accidentally hit by Kuwait’s own air defenses.
“The Iranian regime is known to resell its military achievements for propaganda purposes,” the publication added.
