Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled for prostate removal surgery on Sunday, just one week after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.
Netanyahu, 75, was set to undergo the procedure at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem while also navigating the ongoing war with Iran’s terror proxies and facing his corruption trial.
The surgery was expected to last two hours, as doctors addressed “a benign enlargement of his prostate,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
Hospital officials indicated they would provide updates on Netanyahu’s condition after the procedure, which typically requires several days of recovery.
Despite this, Netanyahu was expected to have little time for rest due to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran-backed groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Recently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) escalated airstrikes in Yemen, targeting the Houthi rebel group at Sana’a International Airport.
The IDF stated that these attacks were in retaliation for Houthi assaults on Israel and their continued attacks on military and shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
In addition to his military duties, Netanyahu faces personal challenges related to his ongoing corruption trial, which began in 2020.
Netanyahu has been accused of trading regulatory favours with media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage. Around 140 witnesses have testified in the trial, and approximately 300 are expected to speak.
Before his surgery, Netanyahu had testified in court, denying the allegations, and he is likely to remain on the stand for several weeks as the trial continues.
