Conflicting reports regarding the claimed assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have flooded social media and news outlets amidst the rapidly developing war on Iran.
Speculation intensified following claims that the Prime Minister’s official aircraft, known as “Wing of Zion,” was tracked heading toward Germany.
These allegations rely on purported flight radar data showing the official government plane departing Israeli airspace.
However, there has been no official confirmation that Netanyahu has left the country.
The rumors come in the wake of the massive joint US-Israeli operation that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, during a period marked by heightened disinformation.
Netanyahu’s official social media accounts released a statement on Sunday confirming that he remains in Israel, effectively silencing rumors of his departure or assassination.
According to the statement, Netanyahu held a high-level security meeting on Sunday in Tel Aviv with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and the Director of Mossad.
Official photographs of the briefing were released alongside the announcement, providing visual evidence of the Prime Minister’s presence in the country and refuting claims based on alleged flight radar data that suggested he had fled to Germany.
Netanyahu issued a subsequent statement on Sunday, further confirming his safety while addressing the nation.
“Yesterday here in Tel Aviv, and today in Beit Shemesh, we lost dear ones,” Netanyahu wrote, offering condolences to the families of victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.
Israeli media outlets have launched a coordinated effort to counter the widespread “assassination” rumors circulating on social media. Official sources confirmed that reports of Netanyahu’s death in an Iranian-linked “retaliatory strike” were entirely fabricated to mislead the public.
Security officials highlighted that many of the viral posts have originated from accounts suspected of having ties to Iran.
Investigations revealed that several images used to “prove” the attack were actually generated using Artificial Intelligence.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
