Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is having his prostate removed on Sunday due to a benign enlargement of the organ that was diagnosed as the cause of a urinary tract infection. Netanyahu’s office has released a statement confirming the procedure and said he would be hospitalized for “a number of days” and fully sedated.
This development comes at a turbulent time for the region, with fighting between Israel and Hamas ongoing in Gaza and clashes with Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifying. Netanyahu, who is 75, is one of several older world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, who are facing scrutiny over their health and physical fitness.
According to his doctor, Dr. Shay Golan, the procedure will likely take about an hour and recovery is expected to be quick. However, the news has sparked concerns over Netanyahu’s health, which has been under scrutiny in recent years.
In the past, Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to present himself as a healthy and energetic leader, including boasting about working 18-hour days and showing footage of him in uniform visiting war zones. However, he has also had several health issues in recent years, including a heart condition that was only revealed publicly after he was fitted with a pacemaker last year.
As the acting prime minister takes over while Netanyahu is undergoing the procedure, his office has cancelled his scheduled testimony in court. The move comes amid intense international efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.