Netanyahu says he underwent treatment for prostate cancer

Published 24 Apr, 2026 05:48pm 2 min read

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that he quietly underwent treatment for prostate cancer, according to a report by CNN on Friday.

Netanyahu, 76, disclosed the diagnosis while releasing the results of his annual medical examination, which he said had been delayed by two months to avoid being used for propaganda by Iran.

The veteran leader, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, had previously undergone surgery for an enlarged prostate in December 2024, a procedure that was publicly confirmed at the time.

In a follow-up examination after the surgery, doctors detected a malignant tumour measuring less than one centimetre in his prostate, Netanyahu said in a statement posted on social media.

The Prime Minister’s Office also released letters from his physicians, stating that the cancer was detected at an early stage and had not spread.

“This is an early detection of a very small lesion, with no metastases, as all other tests confirmed beyond any doubt,” one of the letters said.

While Netanyahu did not specify the exact timing of the diagnosis, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN that it was identified several months ago. He began targeted radiation therapy about two and a half months ago and has since completed the treatment, the source added.

Netanyahu said the therapy was successful and that “the spot disappeared completely.”

“Thank God, I am healthy,” he said. “I had a minor medical issue with my prostate that was completely treated.”

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