A photograph that set off a firestorm of outrage online Wednesday—purportedly showing a group of chareidi bochurim dancing on the graves of David Ben-Gurion and his wife, Paula—appears to be an AI-generated fake, according to police.

The image, which was widely circulated, was initially described as having been taken at the gravesite in Sde Boker.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which manages the site, confirmed that security cameras at the gravesite have not been functioning in recent days. Patrol teams inspected the area in the hours following the online uproar and found no evidence that such an incident had taken place.

Orly Gilad, director of the Negev Highlands district for the Authority, said she received messages from concerned residents after the photo surfaced, but said that nothing on the ground matched the scene depicted in the image.

The Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute condemned the supposed incident, declaring that whether the photo is authentic or fabricated, it is “an attempt to demean the memory” of Israel’s first prime minister. The institute vowed to work with law enforcement to identify those behind it.

Ramat Negev Regional Council head Eran Doron, a resident of Sde Boker, reiterated his earlier reaction: “If the picture is real, this is a most serious incident, and words cannot describe the depth of my shock. Beyond being a national park and the burial place of Israel’s first prime minister, Ben-Gurion’s grave receives more than half a million visitors each year who come to enjoy the breathtaking view of Nachal Zin.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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