Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand in his corruption trial in Israel.

Footage shows Netanyahu appearing in a Tel Aviv courtroom on Tuesday, December 10, as the first sitting Israeli prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant.

The trial comes after over four years of legal battles involving allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust against him.

Netanyahu, who denies the charges, claims the cases are politically motivated attempts to remove him from office. He testified for about four hours and is set to resume his testimony on Wednesday.

The prime minister arrived at the courthouse amid Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza. He has been branded a 'war criminal' by critics.