Benjamin Netanyahu Reveals Successful Treatment for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, disclosed on Friday, April 24, 2026, that he had been diagnosed with and treated for early-stage prostate cancer, with his annual medical report confirming the malignant tumor had been fully eliminated. Netanyahu, 76, announced the news in a post on X, stating that doctors discovered the cancer during routine monitoring that followed an earlier surgery for a benign prostate condition. The official medical report, dated April 20, 2026, was published by the Prime Minister's Office and concluded that treatment was "fully successful." Netanyahu declared he is now in "excellent physical condition" and that the disease has been "completely eliminated."

Tumor found after December 2024 prostate surgery The sequence of events began with a surgery performed on December 29, 2024, at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a procedure described in the report as free of complications. During a subsequent routine check-up, doctors identified a suspicious lesion on the prostate. Further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of early-stage adenocarcinoma, without metastases. 0.9 (centimeters) — size of the malignant tumor discovered The treatment was coordinated by Professor Aharon Popovzer, director of the Sharett Institute at Hadassah Medical Center, alongside specialists from the radiotherapy unit. According to Professor Popovzer, the disease was caught at a very early stage and the growth was small. Subsequent investigations indicated the complete disappearance of the lesion, approximately two and a half months before the report's publication.

Netanyahu withheld diagnosis to deny Iran propaganda material Netanyahu explained that he deliberately delayed the release of his medical report to prevent the information from being exploited during the ongoing war with Iran. He stated he requested the postponement so the report would not appear "at the peak of the war" and be used by Tehran for what he described as "even more false propaganda against Israel." The disclosure comes in the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israel military campaign against Iran that began on February 28, 2026. Netanyahu framed his decision to seek treatment promptly as consistent with his broader approach to risk management. „I chose to postpone the publication of the report so that it would not appear at the peak of the war and be used by Iran for propaganda purposes. Today I can say that I am in good health and in excellent physical shape, after the treatment of a prostate cancer in a very early stage, which was completely eliminated.” — Benjamin Netanyahu via BBC He also said he chose to act immediately upon receiving information about a potential health risk, adding: „When I receive timely information about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately.” — Benjamin Netanyahu via HotNews.ro

Israel's longest-serving prime minister declares full recovery Netanyahu, who is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having held office from 1996 to 1999, from 2009 to 2021, and again since December 2022, described the episode as a "minor medical problem" that has been fully resolved. „I had a minor medical problem with my prostate, which was completely treated. Thank God, I have left it behind.” — Benjamin Netanyahu via HotNews.ro The medical team at Hadassah Medical Center confirmed that the results of post-treatment tests showed the disease had disappeared. Professor Popovzer stated that Netanyahu underwent "a full evaluation" and that the prime minister followed "a modern, specialized treatment" approximately two and a half months before the report's release. The medical report published by the Prime Minister's Office concluded unambiguously that the treatment was "fully successful." Netanyahu's office did not provide details on the specific treatment method used beyond its coordination by the radiotherapy unit.

Netanyahu has faced a series of health-related episodes during his long political career. The December 2024 surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia, which preceded the cancer discovery, was performed at Hadassah Medical Center, one of Israel's leading academic medical institutions established in 1934. Netanyahu has been Israel's longest-serving prime minister, with his current term beginning in December 2022 following a return to power after a period in opposition. His government has been managing simultaneous military engagements, including the war in Gaza that began in October 2023 and the US-Israel military operation against Iran that commenced in February 2026.