Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly appeared in a video from a café near Jerusalem after rumours circulated in Iran claiming that he had been killed or seriously injured.
The short video, posted on his official Telegram account, showed Netanyahu calmly taking coffee and speaking casually with an aide — a direct response to reports carried by Iranian state media during the ongoing regional conflict.
A Calm Response to a Dangerous Rumour
In the video, Netanyahu’s aide asks him about the claims that he is dead.
The Israeli leader responds with a joke built around a Hebrew slang expression involving the word “dead,” saying he is “crazy about coffee” before adding that he is also “crazy about his people.” Reuters confirmed that the footage was recorded at a café on the outskirts of Jerusalem by matching interior details and same-day photos shared by the café itself.
Why the Rumour Spread So Fast
The rumours appeared at a moment when public visibility of Netanyahu has been limited because of wartime security restrictions.
Since the joint US-Israel attacks on Iran began on February 28, Netanyahu has visited missile-hit towns, military locations and hospitals, but most appearances have been tightly controlled through official videos rather than open media access.
That limited access created space for speculation online, especially across Iranian social media channels where claims of injury or death quickly spread.
Israel Still Under Emergency Restrictions
Inside Israel, wartime measures remain strict.
Public gatherings are banned in many areas, schools remain closed across much of the country, and many citizens continue staying near shelters because of repeated missile alerts.
Netanyahu also recently held his first press conference since the conflict began, but even that appearance was done through video link rather than a physical media event.
Information War Now Running Alongside Missile War
As military attacks continue across the region, the battle for public perception is becoming just as intense.
Videos, rumours, denials and rapid online reactions are now shaping how millions of people understand the conflict minute by minute.
For both sides, controlling the narrative has become part of the war itself.
