Netanyahu appears in court for 86th corruption hearing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the District Court in Tel Aviv on Tuesday for the 86th hearing in his long-running corruption trial. Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases — known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000 — with indictments first filed in late November 2019.

Case details and trial progress

According to Israel’s Channel 12, questioning in Case 4000 has concluded, and proceedings have now moved to Case 2000. Questioning in Case 1000 ended in November 2025. Case 1000 involves allegations that Netanyahu and his family received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favours. In Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of negotiating favourable media coverage with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes. Case 4000 centres on claims that Netanyahu granted regulatory benefits to Shaul Elovitch, former owner of the Walla news site and Bezeq telecom, in return for positive coverage.

ICC warrant and Gaza war

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing since his trial began in 2020. Israeli law allows a presidential pardon only after a defendant admits guilt. Beyond domestic charges, Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have killed over 72,000 people — mostly women and children — since October 2023. For Türkiye, which has repeatedly called for Netanyahu’s prosecution at the ICC and condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, the prime minister’s legal troubles underscore Ankara’s long-standing position that Israeli leaders must be held accountable under international law.