Protesters, including families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, gathered outside the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to begin giving evidence in the corruption cases against him. The protesters shouted, "A year of abuse, we will not forget and we will not forgive," and "Bribery, fraud, and breach of trust," the charges the state prosecutor is bringing against Netanyahu.

Five years after the indictment was filed against him, today begins the stage in which the accused Netanyahu presents his allegations and evidence to defend himself from the accusations against him, as a central defendant in corruption cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. Netanyahu's testimony is expected to last several weeks, and he must appear in court three times a week.

Netanyahu will testify in a heavily guarded underground courtroom in the Tel Aviv District Court, which was built to try members of criminal organizations. The right-wing party leadership called on its supporters to attend the court, and Netanyahu’s office also invited ministers and Knesset members to attend, some of whom attended, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The Jerusalem District Court halted deliberations in Netanyahu's trial following the war on Gaza and Lebanon, due to the closure of the courts, and then following Netanyahu's requests to postpone the trial, which led to the postponement of hearing his testimony for half a year, then it was decided to transfer it to the Tel Aviv District Court for security reasons related to Netanyahu's protection.

Netanyahu arrived at the courthouse at 10 a.m. today. Netanyahu tried to shorten the number of days he would testify before the court, due to his management of the war on Gaza, and now on Syria, but the judges rejected his request.

The judges rejected Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's claim that the court must coordinate with him the timing of Netanyahu's appearance, because Netanyahu is charged with criminal offenses and has waived his parliamentary immunity, and stressed that Netanyahu is expected to attend all court sessions.

In Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of receiving personal benefits and expensive gifts from businessmen and wealthy people in exchange for his efforts to help them, including film producer Arnon Milchan, for whom Netanyahu sought to obtain a ten-year entry visa to the United States.

In Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of having proposed, during conversations with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes, to stop distributing the free Israel Hayom newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage in Yedioth.

In Case 4000, Netanyahu is accused of striking a deal with businessman Shaul Elovitch, publisher of the Walla website, to provide Netanyahu with favorable media coverage in exchange for promoting the merger of Bezeq Telecom and Yes, both owned by Elovitch.