Netanyahu responds to rumours of his death with puns & coffee: 'I love my people to death'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X to address rumours by Iranian media that he had been killed or injured by airstrikes – with wordplay.

A minute-long clip posted on Mar. 15, captioned "They say I'm what?" opened with Netanyahu collecting a cup of coffee from the counter of a cafe.

He then addressed the rumours on camera.

"I am dead… for coffee, you know what I mean? I love my people to death and how they are conducting themselves," he said in Hebrew.

He then held up his hands to show 10 fingers, apparently in response to online rumours that a televised press conference on Mar. 12 featured an AI version of him with six fingers, reported the Times of Israel.

Reuters verified the video to be real and filmed in a cafe on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has reportedly visited at least two towns hit by Iranians missiles since Israel conducted strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, though media access has been limited.

Top images via Benjamin Netanyahu/X