Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will have surgery under full anaesthesia for a hernia said in a statement.

According to a statement from his office, the 74-year old Netanyahu was diagnosed with a hernia during a routine examination on Saturday and was scheduled to undergo the surgery on Sunday.

The surgery means Israel’s leader will be temporarily out of action with the nation at war with Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 attacks.

Israel’s deputy prime minister and justice minister, Yariv Levin, will step in for Netanyahu while he is incapacitated.

The operation will take place amid renewed talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo, according to a report in Egyptian media, to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by the militant group in exchange for a ceasefire in the conflict that has seen more than 32,000 Gazans killed had reached an impasse last week.