Netanyahu will perform a hernia operation under full anesthesia, and the Deputy Prime Minister will intervene temporarily

CNN
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced in a statement that he will undergo surgery under general anesthesia for a hernia.

The statement said that Netanyahu, 74, was diagnosed with a hernia during a routine examination on Saturday and is scheduled to undergo surgery at the end of work on Sunday.

The surgery means the Israeli leader will be temporarily absent from work with the country, which is at war with Hamas in Gaza in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin will replace Netanyahu during his incapacitation.

At a press conference Sunday in Jerusalem before the surgery, Netanyahu said he was optimistic about the results of the operation and that he would return to work “very quickly.”

“I assure you that I will pass this treatment successfully and I will return to playing very quickly,” Netanyahu said.

The operation will take place amid renewed talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo. According to what was reported by Egyptian media.

Negotiations are underway to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by the armed movement in exchange for a ceasefire in the conflict that has seen the deaths of more than 32,000 Gazans. I reached a dead end last week.

This is Netanyahu's second surgical operation since his return to the premiership in late 2022. Health fear last summer The Israeli leader ended up being fitted with a pacemaker to repair a transient heart blockage.

Netanyahu previously suffered from a hernia In the year 2013 Which also requires surgery.

A hernia is a gap in the muscular wall of the abdomen that allows something inside the abdomen to protrude outside. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine.