Trump Urges Halt to Netanyahu’s Trial—A New Deal to End the War on Gaza?

Just hours after the war on Iran ended, the “victory euphoria” promoted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly faded, as the specter of Gaza returned to haunt him.

Less than a day after the June 13–24 war against Tehran came to a close, a powerful explosion rocked the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing seven Israeli Occupation soldiers at once when their armored vehicle was set on fire by a single resistance fighter.

This sudden shock wasn’t just a military blow—it marked a dramatic reopening of the Gaza front, reigniting the genocide on Gaza file after a month-long lull, overshadowed by the intense Israeli 12-day war on Tehran, which had stalled ceasefire talks.

Netanyahu Under Pressure on All Fronts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now finds himself besieged on multiple fronts. First, the families of Israeli captives in Gaza have returned to the streets, pressing the government to finalize a prisoner exchange deal. Their anger has reignited domestic pressure just as ceasefire talks remain fragile.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders and former military officials are once again calling for an end to what they describe as a “purposeless war”—one they argue is being prolonged solely to keep Netanyahu in power and preserve his far-right coalition.

Another major threat comes from the unresolved crisis over drafting ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews into the army. That issue nearly toppled the government in June but was temporarily shelved when Netanyahu convinced Haredi parties to hold off, citing the urgency of “the military strikes” on Iran.

A proposed bill to dissolve the Knesset failed in a June 12 vote, just a day before “Israel” launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The Haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, which hold 11 and 7 seats respectively, were persuaded to remain in the coalition to see through the attack. Without them, Netanyahu’s 62-seat coalition would collapse.

Yet expanding the war on Gaza may reignite the conscription debate. The ultra-Orthodox reject military service, insisting their role is to study the Torah. 

When Army Chief Eyal Zamil issued tens of thousands of new draft orders—including to members of the Haredi community—for an expanded “Gaza operation,” tensions soared. Some draft resisters were jailed, and Haredi leaders began threatening to bring down the government.

Netanyahu’s crisis doesn’t end with expanding or continuing the war on Gaza—it also lies in how to stop it. Even if the conflict is brought to a close, he still faces strong pushback from key coalition partners. Several parties that could collapse his government oppose ending the offensive altogether. Among them are Religious Zionist party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as National Security Minister and Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben Gvir.

The third major issue closing in on Netanyahu is the resumption of his corruption trial, with the courts no longer accepting the delays that were previously "justified" by security concerns or political developments. On June 27, the District Court of Occupied Jerusalem rejected—for the second time in a single day—Netanyahu’s request to postpone his hearings for two weeks. The Israeli prime minister is also wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Even after submitting a classified schedule outlining his “commitments,” the court ruled that his “obligations” did not justify delaying the trial. However, two days later, after a closed-door hearing, the court partially relented—canceling sessions on June 30 and July 2 following “significant changes” and “new circumstances.”

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—allegations that, if proven, could send him to prison, as happened with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Trump Steps In 

The fall of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government would almost certainly accelerate his corruption trial and reopen scrutiny over Israeli Occupation failures in “confronting” the Palestinian Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7. With that looming, U.S. President Donald Trump has entered the picture, offering what looks like a political lifeline.

More than 20 months into the war on Gaza, U.S. and Israeli media have increasingly reported that Trump’s administration believes Netanyahu is dragging out the conflict for personal political gain. Trump has voiced frustration, repeatedly urging an end to the war and the return of Israeli captives—goals that conflict with Netanyahu’s agenda of occupying Gaza and displacing its population.

But after attacking Iran’s nuclear sites were declared a “strategic success,” Trump shifted his tone. He began pushing a new deal: end the war on Gaza, free the captives, and in return, save Netanyahu from prosecution.

Just one day after the war on Iran ended, on June 25, Trump took to Truth Social to call for Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be halted or for him to be granted a full pardon. He described the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt,” saying the trial “should be cancelled, immediately, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero.”

Four days later, he doubled down, calling it a disgrace what they’re doing to Netanyahu and reminding the public of his leadership during the attack on Iran. 

“It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu. He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that Netanyahu is also in the process of negotiating with Hamas to get back Israeli hostages.

“How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING (Cigars, Bugs Bunny Doll, etc.). It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure,” Trump said.

He called the process a travesty of justice that “will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations.”

He also called what the prosecutors investigating Netanyahu are doing “INSANITY.”

“The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this. We just had a Great Victory with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the helm — And this greatly tarnishes our Victory. LET BIBI GO, HE’S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!” he stated.

Trump’s remarks suggested a behind-the-scenes deal: protect Netanyahu from trial in exchange for ending the war and securing the release of captives. The implication was clear—Trump had concluded that Netanyahu was prolonging the war on Gaza for personal survival, not strategic gain.

Netanyahu responded with gratitude by posting a message thanking Trump for his heartfelt support and “unwavering commitment to Israel” and the Jewish people.

Later, the Israeli prime minister hinted that Trump’s intervention could be part of a broader, coordinated deal. “We will continue to work together to defeat our common enemies, free our hostages, and quickly expand the circle of peace,” he said.

Not everyone welcomed the gesture. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid rejected Trump’s call outright, stating: “With all due respect to Trump, he should not interfere in a legal process in an independent country.”

Signals and Motives 

On June 29, U.S. President Donald Trump posted again, this time writing bluntly: “Make the deal in Gaza. Bring the hostages Back!!” 

The Israeli daily Maariv immediately reacted to the tweet, calling it a “diplomatic earthquake” and noting that Trump was demanding an immediate agreement on Gaza.

“They [in Israel] understood the message was aimed squarely at Netanyahu—because Hamas doesn’t take orders from Trump,” political analyst Yasser Zaatreh posted on X.

Haaretz military correspondent Amos Harel said both Netanyahu and Trump see themselves as partners in “the successful attack on Iran and its nuclear installations.” Writing on June 30, Harel noted: “Now, Trump is trying to leverage the achievement in Iran to end the war in Gaza, bring home the hostages and normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia (and perhaps most important of all, to win the Nobel Peace Prize). And for all this, Netanyahu has only one small request – help me escape trial.

In Yedioth Ahronoth, journalist Itamar Eichner questioned what prompted Trump to wake up and suddenly demand an end to Netanyahu’s corruption trial—and how it connects to the president’s broader strategy to end “the Gaza war,” recover “hostages,” and expand the Abraham Accords.

Eichner pointed to a divide within “Israel”: some believe Trump’s posts came at Netanyahu’s request, while others see them as a calculated move by Trump to pressure the Israeli leader. Trump, he suggested, may be signaling: I’ll help with your trial—now deliver on Gaza, the hostages, and the Saudi deal.

Trump’s call for a pardon was spontaneous and not coordinated with Netanyahu. But speculation has grown in “Israel” that an eventual deal to suspend Netanyahu’s trial—possibly via a presidential pardon—may be on the table, according to a White House official who spoke to Axios.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has previously floated the idea of a plea deal that would involve Netanyahu admitting guilt in exchange for ending the war on Gaza.

While Herzog does not have the authority to cancel an ongoing trial, he can issue a pardon after a conviction. Former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak even endorsed such a scenario, suggesting it could help resolve the crisis.

Trump’s push, however, goes beyond legal salvation. Eichner wrote that the U.S. president’s statements are not just personal expressions of support but part of a broader, possibly coordinated effort to reshape the Middle East, with Netanyahu playing a central role.

Following the war on Iran, Trump told Fox News that several Arab nations were ready to join the Abraham Accords, hinting that Iran had been the major roadblock.

Soon after, pro-Israeli outlets launched a media blitz promoting a new “Israeli Coalition for Regional Security” that included images of Arab leaders—among them the head of the Egyptian regime Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and prominent Gulf figures—standing beside Netanyahu and Trump under banners reading “Abraham Shield Plan.”

Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House on July 7 to discuss the outcomes of the Iran attack and the war on Gaza. Trump told reporters during a visit to Florida that he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza ceasefire. “We hope it’s going to happen. And we’re looking forward to it happening sometime next week,” he told reporters. “We want to get the hostages out.”