‘We are not going to stand for this’: Trump ties Israeli legal action against Netanyahu to US aid

Toronto/Washington: US President Donald Trump has again lashed out at prosecutors over the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Washington, having given billions of dollars worth of aid to Israel, was not going to “stand for this”.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – all of which he denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in April.Credit: Getty Images

“It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that the judicial process was going to interfere with Netanyahu’s ability to conduct talks with Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Iran.

Trump’s second post over the course of a few days defending Netanyahu and calling for the cancellation of the trial went a step further to tie Israel’s legal action to US aid.

“The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar [sic] a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this,” Trump said.

Netanyahu “right now” was in the process of negotiating a deal with Hamas, Trump said, without giving further details. On Friday, he told reporters there could be a ceasefire agreement in Gaza within the next week. Taking questions from reporters on Friday, he said: “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of.”

An official with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer would arrive in Washington next week for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other subjects.

Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

There is hope among families of hostages that Trump’s involvement in securing the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran might lead to more pressure for a deal in Gaza. Netanyahu is riding a wave of public support for the Iran war and its achievements, and he could feel he has more space to move toward ending the war in Gaza, something his far-right governing partners oppose.

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Trump’s comments came as the Israel Defence Forces said it had “eliminated” Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, “one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing”, and as health workers said Israeli strikes had killed at least 72 people across Gaza overnight Friday and into Saturday.

In a statement on X, the IDF said Issa “led Hamas’ force build-up, training and planned the October 7 massacre”, adding he was “one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip”.

The 21-month war was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which some 1200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

The conflict has since killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians because they operate in populated areas.

Reuters, AP

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