Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital Thursday after having prostate surgery on Sunday.
Doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem reported that Netanyahu was recuperating satisfactorily, although he still faces a period of recovery.
Medical follow-ups will continue as usual, according to a hospital statement. Despite doctors’ orders to remain hospitalized, the 75-year-old leader briefly left the facility to participate in a vote in Israel’s Parliament on Tuesday.
Newsweek has reached out to Netanyahu’s office for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
This news comes amid ongoing tensions in Gaza, where Israeli military actions have caused significant casualties.
An Israeli strike on Thursday killed at least eight Palestinian men in the central part of the strip. The deceased were members of committees that assist in securing aid convoys, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies.
Last month, Netanyahu became the first Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant, however he remained defiant, describing the corruption charges leveled against him as a “drop in the sea” compared to his task of defending Israel from its enemies.
What To Know
Earlier Thursday, an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza killed at least nine people, including three children and two senior Hamas police officers, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza. The Israeli military has not commented on these recent strikes.
Israel has repeatedly targeted Hamas-run police forces, which has contributed to a breakdown of law and order in Gaza and made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid. Israel accuses Hamas of hijacking aid for its own purposes.
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas was sparked when the militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. At least 100 are still missing with many feared dead.
According to health officials, the ongoing Israeli offensive has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, with women and children making up more than half the fatalities. The officials do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their death tolls.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure to treat Netanyahu’s prostrate had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.
World Health Organization director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need to for Israel to authorize the evacuation of more patients from Gaza in a statement on Thursday “At this rate, it would take 5-10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients, including thousands of children,” Tedros said. “In the meantime, their conditions get worse and some die.”
Ziyad Abu Jabal, a displaced man from Gaza City said of the attacks on Thursday “Everyone was taking shelter in their tents from the cold, and suddenly we found the world turning upside down. Why, and for what?”
What Happens Next
The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with more Israeli airstrikes expected. Netanyahu’s recovery will likely continue to be a key topic of focus within Israel’s political and military leadership, influencing the trajectory of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The international community will continue to monitor the human toll of the conflict, with potential for further political developments.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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