ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Isaac Herzog today to grant him a pardon during his long-running corruption trial.

The day before, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched across Europe to demand justice for the Palestinian people.

In a statement, the Israeli prime minister’s office said that Mr Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the president’s office. 

The latter described it as an “extraordinary request,” carrying “significant implications.”

Mr Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favours with wealthy political supporters. He denies all the charges.

The request comes weeks after US President Donald Trump urged Israel to pardon Mr Netanyahu.

In a videotaped statement, Mr Netanyahu said the trial has divided the country and that a pardon would help restore national unity. He also said the requirement that he appear in court three times a week was a distraction that makes it difficult for him to lead the country.

Mr Netanyahu’s request consisted of two documents — a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by himself. 

There does not appear to be a time frame for consideration of the request. 

On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets across Europe to mark the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Demonstrators demanded action against Israel’s continuing deadly violations of the ceasefire deal which came into force on October 10. 

In Paris, more than 50,000 people marched, chanting “Gaza, Gaza, Paris is with you,” as they denounced “Israeli genocide.”

Anne Tuaillon, leader of the France Palestine Solidarity Association, a coalition of around 80 groups, unions and parties, said “nothing has been resolved” seven weeks after the ceasefire and that the truce was a “smokescreen” that Israel violates every day.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese and climate activist Greta Thunberg were among tens of thousands of people who marched through Rome.

Ms Albanese posted on X that Israel is “committing genocide against the Palestinians” not just in Gaza but also in the occupied West Bank.

In another grim milestone, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the official death toll from the Israeli military campaign launched in October 2023 has now reached at least 70,000.