Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to undergo surgery today (Sunday) to remove his prostate, according to a statement from his office. The procedure follows a urinary tract infection detected last Wednesday, which was caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The surgery will be performed at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and will be led by Professor Ofer Gorfith, head of the hospital's urology department.
Professor Mordechai Duvdevani, chairman of the Israeli Urological Association and a specialist in benign prostate laser surgery, may also join the operation. The specific surgical method has not yet been disclosed. Professor Alon Pikarsky, head of Hadassah's surgical division, is also expected to participate. Pikarsky, a member of Netanyahu's medical advisory team, performed a hernia surgery on the Prime Minister in March of this year and previously operated on Sara Netanyahu.
Following the procedure, Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized. Patients undergoing similar surgeries typically stay in the hospital for one to three nights.
The prostate is a vital gland in the male reproductive system, affecting approximately one in two men over the age of 50. It is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body. The primary function of the prostate is to produce a component of seminal fluid, essential for male fertility.
BPH is a common condition among older men, involving a natural enlargement of the gland. Modern medicine considers the treatment of BPH routine, with surgeries designed to alleviate urinary symptoms and prevent future complications. Importantly, BPH is a benign (non-cancerous) condition and typically does not pose severe or life-threatening risks, though it can cause bothersome symptoms requiring medical intervention.
Netanyahu's medical history
This is not the first time Netanyahu has undergone medical procedures related to the urinary system. In his most recent medical report, published at the end of 2023, there was no mention of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, in 2017, the Prime Minister underwent a procedure to "break up a bladder stone" while under sedation.
Earlier, in 2015, Netanyahu underwent an experimental medical procedure at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Netanyahu has also previously undergone procedures performed by Professor Alon Pikarsky, head of Hadassah Ein Kerem surgical division. Professor Pikarsky, who serves as one of the Prime Minister's medical advisors, performed a hernia operation on Netanyahu in March this year and an appendectomy on Sara Netanyahu in March 2021.
