The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Trump demands end to PM’s graft trial: ‘The US saved Israel, and now is going to save Bibi’
US President Donald Trump demands the Israeli justice system drop its corruption case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!” Trump writes in a lengthy post on Truth Social.
Trump calls the corruption probe a “politically motivated case.”
“Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State,” Trump says.
“It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu. THIS TRAVESTY OF ‘JUSTICE’ CAN NOT BE ALLOWED!” he says.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.25.25 06:27 PM EST
BREAKING NEWS…I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 25, 2025
Trump writes that he “just learned that Bibi has been summoned to Court on Monday.” It’s unclear what hearing he is referring to; Netanyahu’s cross-examination, which began earlier this month, is due to resume after the courts went on emergency footing amid the war with Iran, with only urgent proceedings taking place.
Hegseth to hold ‘irrefutable’ Thursday news conference on Iran strikes, Trump says
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will hold a “major” news conference on Thursday morning, US President Donald Trump says, as his administration pushes to quell doubts over the damage done by US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Hegseth, together with Military Representatives, will be holding a Major News Conference tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. EST at The Pentagon, in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots,” Trump says in a post on Truth Social.
“The News Conference will prove both interesting and irrefutable,” he says.
Netanyahu says Hamas taking control of humanitarian aid in Gaza
Hamas is taking control of humanitarian aid entering the northern Gaza Strip and stealing it from Gazan civilians, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in a joint late-night statement.
They instruct the IDF to present to them within 48 hours a plan to keep Hamas from stealing aid, according to the statement.
The announcement comes an hour after former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who looks to be a leading challenger to Netanyahu in the next election, posted on X a video of armed men he says are Hamas operatives riding on trucks full of humanitarian aid that they had taken over. He wrote that soldiers in the ground told him their orders are to let trucks in to Gaza with no attempt to control what happens to them.
Witkoff repeats prediction that additional countries will soon join Abraham Accords
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff reiterates his belief that additional countries will join the Abraham Accords.
“We think we will have big announcements on countries that are coming into the Abraham Accords,” he tells CNBC in an interview.
He made a similar prediction at an Israel Independence Day event last month. “We think [we] will have some, or a lot of announcements, very, very shortly, which we hope will yield great progress by next year.”