Netanyahu delays trial again as Gaza war used to dodge accountability
3 Min Read
Critics have responded with outrage, accusing Trump and Netanyahu of weaponizing Gaza's destruction and the suffering of Palestinians for personal political gain.
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A woman uses her mobile phone to take photos as she holds a poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a rally in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Israeli news outlets reported Sunday that the Jerusalem District Court has postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in his years-long corruption trial, following a closed-door hearing that has reignited concerns among Palestinian advocates and human rights observers.
Netanyahu, indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust since 2019, requested a delay of his court appearances originally scheduled for this week and next. Although the court had previously denied similar requests, it reversed course after Monday's classified session, which included testimony from the heads of Mossad and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Military Intelligence, who reportedly backed Netanyahu's claims of urgent national security matters.
The judges said the latest hearing presented "substantial additional information" and agreed to cancel this week's testimony. However, they left open the possibility of also postponing next week's appearances if new "well-founded requests" are submitted.
Judicial Evasion
The decision came just hours after US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social with an aggressive defense of Netanyahu, calling for the trial to be scrapped altogether. "Make the deal in Gaza, bring back the hostages!!!" Trump posted, before claiming, "Netanyahu's prosecutors have gone out of control. We won't tolerate this, they're hurting our victory."
Describing the trial as "INSANITY" and a "POLITICAL WITCH HUNT," Trump compared Netanyahu's legal troubles to his own and implied that Israeli prosecutors were obstructing the Prime Minister's ability to handle critical negotiations with both Hamas and Iran. "LET BIBI GO, HE'S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!" he declared, linking his comments to U.S. financial support for "Israel": "We are not going to stand for this."
Weaponized War
Critics have responded with outrage, accusing Trump and Netanyahu of weaponizing Gaza's destruction and the suffering of Palestinians for personal political gain.
Echoing this view, Israeli opposition politicians such as Naama Lazimi and Gilad Kariv (Labor) accused the Prime Minister of using the war in Gaza to trade away "Israel's" legal system in exchange for personal political survival.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has also called out the Netanyahu-led campaign as "unjustifiable," stating it reflects a pattern of political leaders hiding behind national security rhetoric while engaging in criminal acts.
Read more: Ex-Israeli PM admits Israeli actions in Gaza 'close to war crimes'
Since October 7, 2023, "Israel's" bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza have killed tens of thousands, displaced nearly the entire population, and reduced much of the territory to rubble. Amid growing global pressure, Hamas has reiterated its willingness to negotiate a ceasefire in exchange for a permanent end to hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces—conditions that "Israel" continues to reject.
Observers warn that the convergence of Netanyahu's legal crisis and the intensifying war has created a dangerous precedent where internal judicial processes are subordinated to militarism and impunity, all while Palestinians endure an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe under siege.
