Key events
Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US was “not going to stand” for what he framed as the continued prosecution of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges.
“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,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
An Israeli court on Friday rejected Netanyahu’s request to postpone giving testimony in his corruption trial, ruling that he had not provided adequate justification for his request.
Netanyahu is standing trial for three charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies the accusations levelled against him and say they are politically motivated.
Israel relies heavily on the US, a vitally important strategic ally that provides diplomatic cover and weapons that allow it to continue its assault on Gaza.
Trump reiterates calls for Gaza ceasefire after saying a truce could be secured within a week
We are continuing our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Israel’s war on Gaza.
US president, Donald Trump, has reiterated calls for a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.
Posting to Truth Social on Sunday morning, he wrote: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”
Trump said on Friday that he believed it is possible that a ceasefire could be reached within a week, despite intense bombardment of the strip by the Israeli military and continued deadly Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians.
Some 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with less than half believed to still be alive.
They were among 251 hostages taken in the Hamas-led 7 October attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed.
Indirect talks between the two sides have faltered since Israel shattered a previous ceasefire in March that had come into effect in January.
Israel’s military, meanwhile, issued an evacuation order for the northern Gaza Strip this morning, warning Palestinian people in parts of Gaza City and nearby areas of imminent strikes there.
“The defense army is operating with extreme force in these areas, and these military operations will escalate, intensify, and extend westward to the city center to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations,” military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.
