‘Happy holidays’: Amid death rumours, Netanyahu sends Nowruz greetings to Iranians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video connected Monday wishing Iranians a blessed Nowruz, the Persian New Year, adjacent arsenic Israel continues its warfare against Iran alongside its ally, the United States.In caller years, Netanyahu has repeatedly released video messages addressed to the Iranian people, peculiarly those opposed to the Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership.“To the brave radical of Iran, I privation you, arsenic I bash each year, a blessed vacation season, opening with the Festival of Lights,” the Israeli premier said successful the video, speaking successful English with Farsi subtitles.

He was referring to Chaharshanbe Suri, an past Iranian festival of occurrence and airy that volition beryllium celebrated connected Wednesday.

“It signifies the age-old content of the Iranian radical that airy volition triumph implicit darkness, that bully volition triumph implicit evil,” helium stated.Netanyahu added that this year’s vacation carried “special meaning,” an evident notation to the ongoing struggle during which some the United States and Israel person repeatedly spoken astir “freeing” the Iranian radical from the country’s clerical leadership.“This year, this vacation has peculiar meaning. I instrumentality this accidental to privation you a blessed Nowruz — a twelvemonth of freedom, a caller opening of anticipation for each of you,” helium remarked.

The video besides comes amid rumours circulating online astir Netanyahu being killed during the conflict, which was triggered by associated US-Israeli strikes connected Iran connected February 28.Speculation astir his “death” intensified aft a precocious circulated video appeared to amusement six fingers connected 1 of his hands, prompting immoderate societal media users to assertion the footage was AI-generated. His bureau aboriginal confirmed that Netanyahu is successful bully health.

The premier curate himself posted a video of him drinking coffee, mocking the rumours.“They accidental I’m what??” helium quipped.Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, besides dismissed the viral claims astir Netanyahu’s health, confirming that the premier curate is “very overmuch alive” and that caller footage of him is authentic.Azar emphasized that the video showing Netanyahu astatine a café is “genuine” and was not generated utilizing AI.“Prime Minister Netanyahu is alive. I saw him personally erstwhile I was successful Israel much than once. This video astatine the café is not AI-fabricated. There is simply a batch of disinformation,” helium said.