“I suspect this is a gift [Trump] is giving [Netanyahu] because he plans to pressure him on Gaza and force him into a hostage deal that would end the war,” Lapid told the Israeli news site Ynet.
Netanyahu’s trial has unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, which began with the unprecedented and deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, leading to repeated delays in the judicial process.
In particular, the protracted war against Hamas in Gaza has fueled speculation among some that Netanyahu may be deliberately prolonging the conflict to delay elections and stall the conclusion of his trial.***