Overview
- The 35-year-old witness, identified as Jonathan G., completed two days of testimony on July 8–9 and said he was recruited because he spoke German and was told the 'retrieval' was lawful.
- The court temporarily excluded the public for portions of his questioning after he disclosed severe psychological distress, including anxiety, alcohol dependence and a prior suicide attempt.
- Defense lawyers sharply attacked the credibility of Israeli witnesses, calling G.'s claims inconsistent and accusing him of lying while prosecutors and other Israeli participants maintain they believed the operation was legal.
- Several Israeli witnesses including the alleged organiser, David B., were granted 'sicheres Geleit' — a court-ordered temporary safe conduct that suspends pre-trial detention so they can testify in Hamburg.
- The trial continues with expert reports, a child-psychiatric assessment and investigator testimony scheduled through July and August as the court weighs conflicting witness accounts and cross-border legal questions.