Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to undergo surgery

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo hernia surgery tonight, his office announced.

His hernia was discovered by doctors "during a routine examination".

During the period of surgery, Justice Minister Yariv Levin will serve as acting prime minister.

The timing of Netanyahu's surgery is deemed critical, as families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza are staging a protest outside the Knesset building in Jerusalem, calling for a deal to release their relatives and accusing Netanyahu of deliberately sabotaging efforts to secure an agreement with Hamas.

On Saturday night, thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv, chanting slogans against Netanyahu and calling for the government's resignation and early elections.