JERUSALEM, Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 24 that he has received treatment for prostate cancer, sharing this news publicly for the first time.
He explained that about a year and a half ago, he had prostate surgery. Then, around two and a half months ago, doctors found a small tumor at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and treated it with radiation therapy. This was not made public at the time.
He said he asked to delay announcing it for two months so it wouldn't come out during the peak of the war with Iran, to avoid what he called false propaganda against Israel.
Netanyahu, who is 76, said he is now healthy and described the tumor as a minor issue.
There had been rumors about his health earlier in the war, especially after fake AI-generated images spread online claiming he had died.
A doctor at Hadassah Hospital said the cancer was found early, which is common in men his age, and added that test results show the disease is gone.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is currently managing conflicts involving Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon. In the past, he has faced criticism for not sharing health updates quickly, including when he revealed he had a pacemaker only after collapsing at a public event.
