Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conscious and speaking with his family after being fully sedated for a hernia operation, the hospital treating him said.
The 74-year-old man’s surgery was successful and he is recovering, the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem announced around 2:00 a.m. local time, although doctors did not immediately specify how long his recovery might take.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin acted as acting prime minister while Netanyahu was unconscious under full anesthesia.
The hospital said doctors discovered the hernia on Saturday during a routine check-up and after consultations a decision was made for the prime minister to undergo surgery after completing his daily schedule.
He added that a cardiologist was part of the prime minister’s medical team for the surgery. Netanyahu previously underwent hernia surgery in 2013 and had a pacemaker inserted last year.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conscious and talking to his family after undergoing successful hernia surgery, doctors said.
Prof. Alon Pikarski (right), head of the surgery department at Hadassah Ein Kerem, performed the surgery.
Tens of thousands of Israelis packed central Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October.
Prof. Alon Pikarski, head of Hadassah Ein Kerem’s surgery department, performed the surgery and said in a brief video statement that it went “as expected and was successful and the Prime Minister is awake, recovering and speaking with his family.” .
Netanyahu underwent surgery as protesters calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza increased pressure on his government nearly six months into the war with Hamas.
Tens of thousands of Israelis packed central Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October.
The deep divisions over Netanayahu’s leadership predate the war, which still enjoys strong public support.
Netanyahu gave a televised speech before his surgery in which he attempted to assure the hostages’ families that he understands their pain and that the government is doing everything it can to bring their loved ones home.
He criticized protesters’ calls for new elections about two years early, saying that would only halt hostage negotiations and serve to help Hamas.
He vowed to maintain the offensive until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed, and reiterated his promise that a ground offensive will be launched in Rafah.
There were angry protests in Jerusalem yesterday as Benjamin Netanyahu was due to undergo surgery.
Anti-government protesters hold Israeli flags and signs with an image of Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu during a demonstration calling for the release of hostages.
More than half of Gaza’s population – 1.4 million people – are seeking refuge in the city amid an Israeli air and ground offensive across the besieged strip, and Netanyahu has come under pressure from the United States to hold back.
He declared that this external pressure would not affect his decision to send troops, saying: “There is no victory without entering Rafah.”
Many Israelis blame him for the security failures on October 7 and some families of the hostages blame him for failing to reach an agreement despite several weeks of talks brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
Hamas and other militants are believed to still be holding about 100 hostages and the remains of another 30, after freeing most of the rest during a ceasefire last November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
It comes as the Israeli army withdrew from Gaza’s largest hospital early today after a two-week raid, leaving behind several bodies and a vast swath of destruction, according to Palestinian residents.
Palestinians inspect damage at Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital after the Israeli army withdrew from the complex housing the hospital on April 1.
A Palestinian woman and child sit in the rubble of Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital after the Israeli army withdrew from the complex.
The military has described the attack on Shifa hospital as one of the most successful operations of the nearly six-month war.
It says it killed dozens of Hamas and other militants, including high-ranking agents, and confiscated weapons and valuable intelligence. He confirmed that forces had withdrawn on Monday.
The U.N. health agency said several patients died and dozens were put in danger during the raid, which wreaked even more destruction on a hospital that had already largely stopped functioning.
The days of intense fighting showed that Hamas can still put up resistance even in one of the worst affected areas of Gaza.
Deadly airstrikes hit the Gaza Strip again as truce talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Cairo on Sunday, according to Egyptian television. But neither Netanyahu nor Hamas expressed optimism.
To help alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, an aid ship set sail from the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus to bring 400 tons of food, as part of a small flotilla.
Foreign powers have increased airdrops of aid, although United Nations agencies and charities warn this falls far short of dire need and say trucks are the most efficient way to deliver aid.