Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent a prostate removal surgery on Sunday, December 29. The surgery, performed under general anesthesia, is expected to result in his discharge from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem a few days after the operation.
Netanyahu’s office announced this news in a statement on Saturday. The statement revealed that following an examination last Wednesday, it was discovered that the 75-year-old Israeli Prime Minister was suffering from a “urinary tract infection caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia,” necessitating the prostate removal surgery in Jerusalem.
The statement mentioned that the surgery would take place under general anesthesia and is anticipated to last for about two hours.
As Netanyahu undergoes surgery, he continues to lead Israel in conflicts with radical groups like Hamas and Houthi militias in the Middle East.
According to Israeli media reports, during the surgery, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin will serve as Acting Prime Minister. If needed, Defense Minister Israel Katz will be authorized to convene a National Security Cabinet meeting.
As per the Mayo Clinic website in Minnesota, patients undergoing prostate removal surgery typically leave the hospital within one to two days, often with a urinary catheter which is usually removed 7 to 10 days post-surgery.
The website advises that post-surgery patients gradually resume activities over time and can generally return to normal life within approximately four to six weeks.
Officials at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital have pledged to provide updates on the Prime Minister’s post-surgery condition.