Netanyahu Posts Gym Workout Video to Prove He’s Healthy Amid Riviera Rumors

TEL AVIV — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of himself working out in a gym on Thursday, an unusual visual display aimed at pushing back against rumors that he has been secretly hospitalized or is in declining health.

The video, posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account, shows Netanyahu — who turned 76 last October — lifting weights, walking on a treadmill, and speaking directly to the camera while performing leg presses and bicep curls.

“A lot of people, especially in the media, are talking about my health — maybe they’d like to join me in the gym for a workout? I’m in excellent shape.”
— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (from the gym video)

🥂 The ‘Riviera’ Rumors

The video was intended to rebut a series of unflattering reports that have surfaced in recent weeks:

• Hospitalization rumors (February 2026) : Unconfirmed social media posts claimed Netanyahu had been rushed to the hospital with chest pains, forcing a delay in his testimony in the ongoing corruption trial .
• The “Tired” testimony: During court last week, observers noted the Prime Minister looked “fatigued,” leading to renewed speculation that ongoing war stress was affecting his physical stamina .
• Dinner on the French Riviera: Israeli media reported that Netanyahu attended a lavish dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on the French Riviera the night before critical Iran ceasefire talks — focusing attention on the optics of attending a luxury state dinner while 30,000 Israelis remained displaced from their homes .

The video appears designed to rebut any claim that the Prime Minister is too ill (or too disinterested) to lead the nation. The timing, just days before the Knesset is set to debate the annual budget and as the war in Gaza and Lebanon continues, is not accidental.

🎬 A ‘Gym Video’ as Political Strategy

Netanyahu has a history of staging “strong man” visuals: a 2015 video of him lifting weights with then-US Ambassador Dan Shapiro, a 2020 video of him receiving the COVID vaccine (live on TV), and a 2024 video showing him in a military helmet visiting troops in Gaza.

But the 2026 gym video is different. He is alone (no aides, no gym buddies), has no government logo on the wall (suggesting a private facility, not an official “I am in charge” office), and his voice sounds slightly labored as he performs the exercises.

Political analyst Yossi Verter noted, “This is not a man who looks like he just ran a marathon, but he looks like a man who wants to look like he just ran a marathon.”

🩺 Medical Background

Netanyahu’s actual medical history is relevant to the rumors. He underwent surgery in 2019 to remove a hernia, has been treated for recurrent kidney stones (requiring hospitalization in 2022) , and has a pacemaker (implanted 2018). He has not released a full medical evaluation since before the general election in 2024, and his doctors have been barred from speaking about his condition due to security restrictions.

⚖️ The Courtroom Incident

Yesterday, Netanyahu’s testimony in his corruption trial was delayed by one hour due to what his lawyer termed “an unexpected security consultation.” But media speculation focused on a brief moment when the Prime Minister appeared to struggle to open a bottle of water placed on the witness stand, an incident quickly clipped and shared widely on social media.

The gym video appears to be a rejoinder to that specific moment: in the clip, Netanyahu is shown easily unscrewing the cap from a protein shake bottle.

📊 The Political Context

Netanyahu’s approval ratings have been underwater for most of the war; polls show a majority of the public does not trust him to manage the economy or negotiate an end to the conflict. However, his personal rating on “strength” and “decisiveness” remains higher than his ratings on honesty or compassion — metrics that the gym video seeks to reinforce.

Whether the gym video will convince anyone beyond his already committed supporters is an open question. But it has provided his social media team with raw material to flood feeds with clips — and forced journalists to spend at least one news cycle covering Netanyahu’s bicep curls rather than the collapse of the ceasefire talks.

📋 Key Takeaways

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