Netanyahu Discloses Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed on Friday that he had been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer several months ago and has successfully completed treatment, declaring himself in good health.

The 76-year-old leader, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, revealed the information alongside his annual medical report, which his office had delayed releasing by about two months. Netanyahu explained that the postponement was to prevent Iran from exploiting the diagnosis for propaganda purposes during ongoing regional conflicts. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the cancer was identified following a routine checkup after his December 2024 surgery for an enlarged prostate.

That procedure, performed on December 29 at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, was described by his office at the time as successful and free of complications. Subsequent tests, including an MRI, detected a malignant tumor in the prostate measuring less than one centimeter. According to letters from his physicians released with the report, the discovery represented an early detection of a very small lesion with no evidence of metastases, as confirmed by additional examinations.