I don't see him trying to convince us that Netanyahu is alive. It is just a side story to build the article on. A funny story when Netanyahu struggling to prove he is alive.
Though, it you believe that Netanyahu is dead, then it will look to you as an attempt to convince you, but I don't think this was the goal of the author. Still, if you in this situation, try to run with the opposite hypothesis and think of ways how Netanyahu could prove he is alive. Or, if it seems difficult, then imagine any other prime minister who accidentally posted a six-fingered video of herself and now faces a problem of proving that she is alive. You'll get the idea of the article easily.
Though, it you believe that Netanyahu is dead, then it will look to you as an attempt to convince you, but I don't think this was the goal of the author. Still, if you in this situation, try to run with the opposite hypothesis and think of ways how Netanyahu could prove he is alive. Or, if it seems difficult, then imagine any other prime minister who accidentally posted a six-fingered video of herself and now faces a problem of proving that she is alive. You'll get the idea of the article easily.