Rumors claiming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had died surged on Google Trends and social media platforms on March 14, 2026, fueled by the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The speculation originated from Iranian media reports and viral videos purporting to show anomalies like Netanyahu with six fingers, which fact-checkers identified as AI-generated deepfakes.

Netanyahu's office dismissed the claims as "fake news," and multiple outlets confirmed his survival through recent public appearances. On March 12, he held a press conference broadcast live, addressing the military situation with Iran. The following day, March 13, Netanyahu stated that Israeli strikes aimed to create conditions for regime change in Iran.

The rumors gained traction after Iranian state-linked Tasnim News Agency speculated on March 10 that Netanyahu may have been killed or injured in a missile strike on Jerusalem, citing a supposed gap in his footage. Snopes rated the claim false, noting no evidence supported it and highlighting Netanyahu's public activities. Additional hoaxes included fabricated screenshots of deleted tweets from his office and photos depicting him injured, all debunked by Israeli officials and independent verifiers.

This wave of misinformation coincides with heightened tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran, which Netanyahu described as weakening Iran's capabilities. Searches for phrases like "Is Netanyahu Dead" spiked around March 11, according to reports, amid broader online chatter about the conflict. Fact-checking sites like Hindustan Times and The Economic Times emphasized reliance on official sources, confirming Netanyahu's continued leadership.

The Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel reported Netanyahu's schedule, including addresses to the nation on strikes against Iranian targets, underscoring his active role. As of March 14, no credible reports indicated any harm to the prime minister, with Wikipedia and news outlets listing him as serving since 2022.