Netanyahu faces court again over corruption charges amid Gaza atrocities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday to address ongoing corruption charges, which have been under trial since 2020.

The court meets twice weekly to hear Netanyahu’s responses to the charges, which stem from three distinct cases filed against him in 2019: Case 1,000, Case 2,000, and Case 4,000.

The allegations involve bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which Netanyahu denies, dismissing them as “fake.”

Netanyahu’s trial, which began on May 24, 2020, marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has appeared in court as a criminal defendant. According to Israeli law, he is not required to resign unless convicted by the Supreme Court, a process that could take several months.

Netanyahu’s crimes against humanity

In addition to these corruption cases, Netanyahu also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 for their involvement in atrocities in Gaza, where more than 50,000 people, predominantly women and children, have been killed since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.