JERUSALEM — In a surprise public announcement made on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he received complete treatment for early-stage prostate cancer detected after a routine surgical procedure in late 2024, and that no trace of the malignancy remains in his body today.
Details of the prime minister’s health status were outlined in an annual medical report published by his official office. The report explains that Netanyahu underwent a scheduled operation in December 2024 to address a benign prostate condition. During post-operative follow-up examinations, medical teams identified a small malignant lesion, measuring less than one centimeter in size. The cancer was confirmed to be at an early stage, with no evidence of it spreading to other parts of the body.
Netanyahu emphasized in his announcement that the malignant spot has been successfully treated and has since disappeared entirely. Taking to the social media platform X, the prime minister wrote, “I am healthy,” adding that he remains in “excellent physical condition” to carry out his official duties.
According to Netanyahu, when the lesion was discovered, his medical team presented two possible paths forward: ongoing regular monitoring or immediate active intervention. He said he made the decision to move forward with treatment without delay to eliminate the health risk.
The Israeli leader also explained the two-month delay in making the diagnosis and treatment public. He stated that he held off on releasing the information to prevent the Iranian government from exploiting the news for what he described as “false propaganda” amid the ongoing active conflict between Israel and Iran.