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Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has explained how he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, revealing that doctors discovered an early-stage malignant tumour during routine medical checks.

In a post on X on Friday, Netanyahu said the tumour was found during follow-up monitoring after a previous surgery for an enlarged benign prostate.

He said the treatment had “removed the problem and left no trace of it”, adding that he is now in “excellent physical condition”.

The Israeli leader also disclosed that he delayed the release of his medical report to avoid its publication during the peak of tensions between the United States and Israel’s conflict with Iran. According to him, the decision was to prevent Tehran from spreading “even more false propaganda against Israel”.

The 76-year-old said the initial prostate surgery took place in 2024, after which he remained under regular medical supervision. During his latest check-up, doctors identified what he described as “A tiny spot of less than a centimetre”.

“I had a minor medical issue with my prostate that was completely treated. Thank God, it’s behind me,” he said.

Netanyahu added that his decision to proceed with treatment was guided by the need to act swiftly on potential health risks.

“when I’m given information in time about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately”.

He added: “This is true on the national level and also on the personal level”.

The disclosure comes ahead of his planned visit to the White House in the coming weeks, as the United States pushes for a lasting peace agreement in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ceasefire with Lebanon, following clashes involving Iran-backed Hezbollah, has been extended by three weeks.

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran to give more time for negotiations but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country’s ports.

Trump posted on social media that he would “extend the ceasefire” until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he “directed our military to continue the blockade.”

Trump’s ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire.

It also came as the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.

“The trip to Pakistan will not be happening today. Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House,” a White House official said in a statement.

The US president cast the breakdown in more talks as resulting from Iranian infighting, adding that Pakistan’s leaders had asked him to extend the truce.

“Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

But the blockade of ports on Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place, Trump said, while the US military will “in all other respects, remain ready and able.”

The ceasefire, he said, will be extended “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

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US federal prosecutors said Sunday an Iranian national was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly trafficking arms to Sudan on behalf of Tehran.

Shamim Mafi, 44, is charged with “brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” US Attorney Bill Essayli wrote in an X post.

A resident of the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills, Mafi “is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016,” the prosecutor said.

Mafi was arrested Saturday and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The post was accompanied by images of a woman presumed to be Mafi surrounded by federal agents at the airport, a large drone on a tarmac, a woman’s ID image and bundles of cash.

The United Nations recently warned that Sudan is at risk of slipping into “full-scale famine and collapse,” as the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its fourth year.

The UN Sudan chief, Denise Brown, told AFP Thursday that Sudan is facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, and weapons from outside sources deserve part of the blame.

The UN has repeatedly called on foreign powers to stop fueling the war, but has not accused specific states.

On one side, the Sudanese army has been backed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and deployed Turkish and Iranian-made drones.

However, most of the blame has been pointed at the United Arab Emirates, which denies evidence that it has funnelled arms to the RSF, who have been accused of genocide.

AFP