Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discloses prostate cancer diagnosis and says treatment is complete

Netanyahu announced on Friday that a malignant tumor smaller than one centimeter was found in his prostate, with no metastases detected. Aharon Popovtser, director of Hadassah Hospital's oncology unit, said the prime minister was diagnosed at an early stage and stated, "We can say based on the findings of these tests that the disease has disappeared," referring to imaging and blood work, according to the Associated Press.

The disclosure came roughly a year and a half after Netanyahu underwent prostate surgery in December 2024 for an enlarged prostate — a procedure that was publicly announced at the time by the prime minister's office, according to the Washington Examiner. The cancer diagnosis itself, however, was not announced when it was made, with Netanyahu saying he requested a two-month delay in releasing his annual medical report. He said he made the request so that Iran would not use the diagnosis as propaganda during the ongoing war. "I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war," he said, as reported by the AP.

Netanyahu announced the news in a post on X, writing, "Thank God, I am healthy," and described the tumor as "a minor medical issue with my prostate that was completely treated." He also said his decision to seek treatment quickly reflected a broader personal principle: "When I'm given information in time about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately," as reported by the Washington Examiner.