A series of videos manipulated with artificial intelligence and images taken out of context have been circulating on social networks for weeks, distorting the relationship between Giorgia Meloni and Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as relations between Italy and Israel.
The videos have been widely shared on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, accompanied by false claims that relations between the two countries have "completely broken down", although the diplomatic reality is much more complex.
One of the most viral videos shows Meloni during a meeting at the UN refusing to shake Netanyahu's hand. In the video, the Italian prime minister is seen wrapped in a Palestinian flag and leaving the hall.
But the footage was created with artificial intelligence. Visual analysis highlights several inaccurate elements, including nonsensical Arabic writing on Meloni's scarf, as well as strange changes in his color as he walks.
Another doctored video shows Meloni shouting in a crowded room, then throwing documents in the air and angrily storming out of the meeting. A reverse image search shows that the video is based on real photos of Meloni at the AI Security Summit in London in November 2023, where she was wearing the same clothes.
The posts accompanying these videos falsely claim that Italy has "cut off all agreements with Israel."
In reality, in April Italy announced that it would not renew the military cooperation agreement with Israel, which was renewed every five years and concerned the exchange of military technology and equipment.
However, Italy continues to have several active bilateral agreements with Israel.
In fact, later in April, Italy and Germany opposed demands from several other European Union countries to suspend the cooperation agreement between the EU and Israel.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that "no decision will be taken" to suspend this agreement, which gives Israel preferential access to the European market for certain products.
In parallel with the deepfake videos, an old video has also been re-distributed on the X platform that claims to show a general strike in solidarity with Gaza in several Italian cities.
The footage shows clashes between protesters and police in Milan, but it dates back to 2025, when demonstrators clashed with police near Milan's central railway station during a national strike organized by unions in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Although the Italian USB union has called a general strike on May 18 in solidarity with Gaza, it has not yet taken place and it is unknown whether there will be similar clashes.
Meloni herself has previously reacted to the use of artificial intelligence to create fake images of her face. One of the most controversial cases was the publication online of a manipulated photo of her in lingerie.
“The problem goes beyond me,” Meloni wrote on X. “Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate, and hurt anyone.”
"Today it's happening to me, tomorrow it could happen to anyone," she warned.
