Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to undergo surgery for a hernia condition after a critical security meeting later tonight. The 74-year-old leader will be fully sedated during the procedure.
The hernia was discovered on Saturday when he underwent a routine medical examination.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin will temporarily assume Netanyahu’s duties as acting prime minister while the surgery is performed. An official statement indicated the handover of powers is a standard protocol for situations when the prime minister must be put under full anesthesia.
The timing of Benjamin Netanyahu’s surgery comes during sustained efforts by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt to broker a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to halt nearly six months of intense fighting. However, the prime minister has thus far rejected Hamas’ demands for an end to military operations and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
There are concerns within Netanyahu’s circle that reaching a ceasefire could be complicated by his temporary incapacitation for the surgery and recovery period. The prime minister has maintained a grueling schedule commanding Israel’s military campaign against Hamas despite being 74 years old.
Questions about Benjamin Netanyahu’s health arose last year when it was revealed he had concealed a long-known heart condition requiring the implantation of a pacemaker. His doctors have insisted he remains in good overall condition to continue leading the nation.
With ceasefire negotiations stalling, Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Gaza over the weekend. One strike hit a tent camp erected at a hospital compound, killing two Palestinians and wounding 15 others who had taken shelter there. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals to base operations.
