President Donald Trump has reportedly authored a letter requesting the Israeli Government pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from various corruption charges.

The prime minister, who has been facing a long-running corruption trial, was indicted in 2019 in three cases, one of which includes allegedly receiving $210,000 in gifts from businessmen, including champagne and cigars. President Trump, who is a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has repeatedly called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to issue the pardon.

“While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements,” the letter from the president read. “I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution.”

According to Herzog’s office, anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with established procedures. This is not the first time that President Trump has urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu.

During an address to the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem last month, Trump — who spoke for over an hour — pleaded with the largely ceremonial figurehead to drop the charges. “Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?” said Trump.

As previously stated, Herzog’s role in the government is largely ceremonial; however, he does hold the power to issue pardons in unusual circumstances. As of Wednesday, there have been no rulings in the prime minister’s trial that began in 2020.

In June, President Trump once again called for the trial to be canceled. Netanyahu has repeatedly slammed the ordeal as a left-wing witch-hunt aimed at toppling an elected right-wing leader.

Netanyahu has always denied wrongdoing and blasted all of the ‘absurd’ corruption accusations.

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President Trump’s desire to end his ally’s legal trouble comes as Netanyahu ordered the military to conduct strikes on the Gaza Strip. The order, which was announced on X, came hours after the Israeli leader allegedly convened an emergency meeting with security officials to discuss Israel’s response to Hama’s alleged repeated ceasefire violations.

Shortly after the announcement, Israel’s Kan News also reported that Israel reportedly intends to expand control beyond the Yellow Line in Gaza with assistance from the United States. It is currently unclear where the strikes will be carried out, though signals that the fragile ceasefire is further crumbling.

It comes after fire was exchanged in Rafah when Israeli troops came under attack and complications continue in connection with the return of hostage bodies, 13 of which still remain in Gaza, leading Israel to accuse Hamas of violating the ceasefire. Israel cited the delay in returning hostage bodies as the reason for its response.

Hamas has made clear that it will need time and assistance, including the utilization of heavy machinery and trained search teams, to recover the remaining bodies. Israel did approve of the request and allowed machinery to be deployed in recent days, though it still has struggled to recover all of the bodies, sparking frustration among the Israeli public.

Israeli media reported ahead of the meeting that Netanyahu and Israeli security officials were weighing at least three options in response to Hamas’ alleged truce violations. These options included air strikes on Hamas, seizing control over more Palestinian territory and/or halting humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.