Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alive and recent rumours about his death are false, Israel's envoy to India said on Monday, responding to viral speculation circulating on social media.

Reuven Azar said he had personally seen the Israeli prime minister during a recent visit to Israel. "Prime Minister Netanyahu is alive. I saw him personally when I was in Israel more than once," Azar said during a media interaction in New Delhi. However, he did not specify when the visit took place, Hindustan Times reported.

The ambassador also rejected claims that a recent video posted by Netanyahu on X was generated using artificial intelligence.

Viral video sparks speculation

Netanyahu had posted a video on Sunday in which he was seen holding a cup of coffee and speaking directly to the camera. "They say I'm what? Watch," the caption of the post read.

In the clip, the Israeli prime minister appeared to address rumours about his death that had spread online amid the ongoing war involving Israel and Iran.

However, many social media users questioned the authenticity of the video and suggested that it might have been generated using artificial intelligence. The speculation increased after Grok reportedly responded to a query saying the clip appeared AI-generated and that there was no record of such a real-life event.

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Responding to these claims, Azar dismissed the suggestion. "This video at the cafe is not AI-fabricated. There is a lot of disinformation," he said, adding that Iran and its allies were responsible for spreading such narratives.

Cafe confirms Netanyahu visit

The cafe where Netanyahu was reportedly filmed also reacted to the speculation. The Sataf shared photos of the Israeli prime minister on social media.

"We were very happy to host the Prime Minister and his office in Sataf today! Know which bakery to visit," the cafe wrote alongside the images, HT reported.

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Rumours about Netanyahu's death have circulated for several days during the escalating conflict in the region. The speculation grew after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in earlier joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Posts claiming that Netanyahu had been killed or seriously injured began appearing soon afterward. The video shared by the Israeli prime minister was widely seen as an attempt to counter those rumours.