Netanyahu’s prostate surgery taking place in underground facility due to rocket fire

His lawyer Amit Hadad told the court that it followed the diagnosis on Wednesday of “a urinary tract infection stemming from a benign enlargement of the prostate”.

Netanyahu has spent six days in the witness stand so far after starting to give evidence in his defence on December 10.

Protesters call for an hostage deal with Hamas in Tel Aviv on the fourth night of Chanukah (Photo: Getty Images)Getty Images

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv and other cities on Saturday night to call for a deal to release the hostages still held captive in Gaza.

Hopes had grown this month of an agreement with Hamas that would finally put an end to their flight but talks have stalled in recent days.

Some 96 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, although the IDF believes that at least 34 of them are no longer alive.