Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed Friday that he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer several months ago and underwent successful treatment, but chose not to make the information public at the time due to ongoing security concerns.
The 76-year-old leader shared the update in a social media post released alongside his annual health assessment. According to Netanyahu, a malignant tumor was discovered and fully eliminated following radiation therapy. “Thank God, I beat this, too,” he wrote.
In a separate video statement, Prof. Aron Popovtzer of Hadassah Medical Center confirmed the diagnosis, identifying the tumor as a 0.9-centimeter adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The condition was detected “several months ago” during routine monitoring that followed Netanyahu’s prostate removal surgery in December 2024.
Popovtzer said the prime minister was presented with treatment options, including continued observation or radiation therapy, and chose the latter. “Two and a half months ago,” the doctor said, Netanyahu underwent treatment. Subsequent imaging and blood tests indicated that “the disease has disappeared.”
The physician, who serves as director of the Sharett Oncology Institute at Hadassah, added that Netanyahu will continue routine follow-up care. He also noted that such diagnoses are relatively common among men in the prime minister’s age group.
The annual health report indicated that Netanyahu remains in overall good condition. Blood test results were normal, and his physical fitness was described as strong. His cardiac status was also stable, with no reported complications since the implantation of a pacemaker in July 2023.
The disclosure comes after prior scrutiny over Netanyahu’s handling of personal health matters. He has previously faced criticism for delaying public updates regarding medical procedures, including the pacemaker implantation and a hernia surgery in March 2024.
In his statement, Netanyahu addressed the decision to withhold the cancer diagnosis for roughly two months. He said the timing was influenced by national security considerations, particularly concerns about adversarial messaging during an active conflict.
He stated that he sought to avoid giving “the terrorist regime in Iran” an opportunity to spread “more false propaganda against Israel.” Reports had circulated online in March alleging that the prime minister had been seriously injured or killed.
Netanyahu framed his response to the diagnosis as consistent with his broader leadership philosophy. “I would like to share three things with you. 1 — Thank God, I am healthy. 2 — I am in excellent physical shape. 3 — I had a small medical problem with my prostate that was completely treated,” he wrote on Twitter.
היום התפרסם הדו״ח הרפואי השנתי שלי.
ביקשתי לעכב את פרסומו בחודשיים כדי שהוא לא יפורסם בשיא המלחמה על מנת שלא לאפשר למשטר הטרור באיראן להפיץ עוד תעמולת כזב נגד ישראל.
אני מבקש לשתף אתכם בשלושה דברים:
1 – ברוך השם, אני בריא.
2 – אני בכושר גופני מצויין.
3 – הייתה לי בעיה…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 24, 2026
He added: “You already know me. When I am informed in a timely manner about a possible danger, I want to address it immediately. This is true on a national level as well as a personal level.”
The prime minister described the procedure as “targeted treatment that removed the problem and left no trace of it.” He also expressed gratitude to medical staff at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and encouraged the public to prioritize regular health screenings and follow medical guidance.
The announcement comes as Israel prepares for national elections expected in approximately six months. If reelected, Netanyahu would become the oldest individual to serve as the country’s prime minister.
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