Former president Shimon Peres, 92, is not dead, his office said on Monday, as rumors of his demise spread on social media.
“Shimon Peres would like to clarify that he is alive and well,” a statement from his spokesman said. “The only thing preoccupying him at this moment is his dinner.”
Earlier, the rumors of Peres’s death were distributed in various WhatsApp groups, which frequently report false news.
The Maariv daily posited a theory as to how the rumors got started: Earlier Monday, a bomb went off in Rishon Lezion in what appeared to be an attempted mob hit, critically injuring one person. The blast took place on Shimon Peres Street in the city, which may have led to the misinformation.
Peres, now retired, had a 55-year political career, most recently as Israel’s president from 2007 to 2014.
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