Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hid prostate cancer from public because of Iran war

Washington Post

24 Apr, 2026 08:43 PM2 mins to read

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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed a cancer diagnosis he previously hid from the public amid the Iran conflict. Photo / Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had been diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer but delayed revealing his condition for two months to avoid it being used against Israel amid the war with Iran.

In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu, who will be 77 in October, said
he requested publication of his annual health report be delayed so it would not be released “at the height of the war, to prevent the Iranian terror regime from spreading further false propaganda against Israel”.

Netanyahu’s annual health report released on Friday said he underwent surgery on December 29, 2024, for an enlarged prostate. The surgery had been reported publicly at the time.

A few months ago during a routine follow-up, doctors discovered early-stage prostate cancer, Aron Popovtzer, director of the oncology department at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, said in a video statement about Netanyahu’s condition.

The prime minister was presented the option of active surveillance or radiation therapy, and he chose to have targeted radiation therapy at Hadassah two and a half months ago.