Claims of Netanyahu's death ignite social media platforms.. What is the truth about Tel Aviv protests?

Accounts on social media circulated video clips that claimed to document protests in Tel Aviv following allegations of the death of the Israeli prime minister.

“Accounts on social media circulated video clips that claimed to document protests in Tel Aviv following allegations of the death of the Israeli prime minister”

Al-Jazeera Net

The circulation of these clips came amid wide controversy on social platforms about the appearances and disappearances of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days, after unverified rumors of his death or being targeted spread.

Al-Jazeera Net

Another circulating clip showed clashes between the Israeli police and Haredi Jews in the streets, in parallel with rising tensions inside Israel.

The clips were accompanied by claims of rioting breaking out and widening confrontations, while some users alleged that they documented 'clashes after Netanyahu's murder' and 'the protests escalating to wide confrontations'.

What does verification say?

The verification process of the two video clips, using reverse image search techniques and accessing the original sources that published the videos, revealed that the videos are not recent, and one of them was shot outside Israel.

Al-Jazeera Net

The first video is linked to protests in Iran during January.

It documents large gatherings in the Iranian city of Mashhad during protests against the regime at that time, and the clip has nothing to do with Israel.

The second video had previously been published on February 9, 2026, i.e., before the events it was recently linked to.

It documents clashes between Israeli police and dozens of Haredi Jews during protests against mandatory military service.

These events stem from demonstrations organized by hundreds of Haredim in protest of the arrest of those wanted for military service, where protesters closed Highway 4 near the Bnei Brak area east of Tel Aviv for several hours, before police intervened to disperse the protest.

The circulating claims are misleading, as the videos are old and from different contexts, reposted and linked to incorrect events related to allegations of the death of the Israeli prime minister.

“Accounts on social media circulated video clips that claimed to document protests in Tel Aviv following allegations of the death of the Israeli prime minister”

Al-Jazeera Net

The absence of repeated media appearances by Netanyahu over periods, along with the spread of unconfirmed information, contributed to a fertile environment for rumors, prompting some accounts to repost old clips and link them to these claims.

This intertwining of rumors and misleading content reflects a recurring pattern in times of crisis, as video clips are used out of context to bolster inaccurate narratives, taking advantage of the state of uncertainty or lack of official information.