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Fact Check: Claim about Benjamin Netanyahu's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Supported

Claim checked

“BREAKING: Benjamin Netanyahu has prostate cancer.”

Published

Updated

Verdict

Supported

On April 24, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and recently completed radiation therapy. While previous medical reports from 2024 and 2025 indicated his prostate issues were benign, this new revelation confirms the discovery of a malignant tumor.

4 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

The claim is supported by news reports from April 24, 2026, which detail a statement made by Netanyahu regarding his annual medical examination. According to reporting from 9News (citing CNN), Netanyahu revealed that doctors discovered a malignant tumor of less than one centimeter in his prostate during follow-up checks after a December 2024 surgery.

Although Netanyahu stated that he is now healthy and that the 'spot disappeared completely' following targeted radiation therapy, the announcement confirms the cancer diagnosis. This disclosure explains the discrepancy with earlier reports from The Jerusalem Post and CNN in late 2024 and early 2025, which had previously characterized his condition as non-cancerous. Netanyahu noted that he delayed the release of this information for several months.

Source quality: The report is based on direct public statements from the Prime Minister's Office and his personal physicians as reported by reputable news outlets on the date of the claim.

Key checks

  • Confirmation of Cancer Diagnosis: On April 24, 2026, Netanyahu revealed that a malignant tumor was discovered in his prostate during a check-up following his 2024 surgery.

  • Status of Previous Health Reports: Earlier reports from February 2025 and December 2024 stated that Netanyahu's prostate issues were benign and that he was 'cancer-free' at that time.

  • Treatment and Current Health Status: Netanyahu reported undergoing radiation therapy for approximately two and a half months and stated that the tumor has since been successfully treated.

Confidence

High