Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Friday that he quietly underwent treatment for prostate cancer, disclosing the diagnosis alongside the release of his annual medical report.
The 76-year-old leader said he held back the report for about two months, arguing that making the information public sooner could have been exploited by Iran for propaganda.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, had surgery in December 2024 to address an enlarged prostate, a procedure his office disclosed at the time. During a follow-up examination, doctors found a malignant tumor measuring less than one centimeter in his prostate, according to a statement he posted on social media.
His office also released letters from physicians detailing the diagnosis. “This is an early detection of a very small lesions, with no metastases, as all other tests confirmed beyond any doubt,” one letter said.
Netanyahu did not specify the exact date of the diagnosis. However, a source familiar with the matter told CNN the cancer was identified several months ago. The prime minister began targeted radiation therapy roughly two and a half months ago and has since completed the treatment, the source said.
Netanyahu said he opted for targeted radiation and reported a successful outcome.
“Thank God, I am healthy,” he wrote on social media. “I had a minor medical issue with my prostate that was completely treated.”
