Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reported to be in 'excellent' health after undergoing surgery to treat a hernia at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. The procedure was deemed successful, with Netanyahu awake, talking to his family, and in perfect condition, according to Alon Pikarsky, the hospital's director of general surgery.
The 74-year-old Netanyahu was diagnosed with a hernia during a routine examination on Saturday and underwent anesthesia for the surgery. During his recovery, Israel's deputy prime minister and justice minister, Yariv Levin, temporarily assumed Netanyahu's duties.
Despite the surgery, Netanyahu expressed optimism about his recovery and stated his intention to return to work swiftly. The operation coincided with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Cairo, focusing on securing the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in the conflict with Gaza.
This marks Netanyahu's second surgery since resuming his role as prime minister in late 2022. Last summer, he received a pacemaker to address a transient heart block, and in 2013, he underwent surgery for a previous hernia.