Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity over Israel’s actions in Gaza. The announcement by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office targets a total of 37 individuals, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.
The warrants cite alleged systematic atrocities in Gaza, including the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in March. Turkey has long been a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions and last year supported South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel reacted sharply to the news. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the move as a “PR stunt” orchestrated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned against Turkey’s involvement in Gaza’s post-war stabilization efforts. Israel maintains that accusations of genocide are false and antisemitic, echoing similar rejections from UN-mandated commissions and international NGOs.
The announcement was welcomed by Hamas, which praised Turkey’s action as evidence of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, a fragile ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since October 10 under a US-brokered peace plan led by President Donald Trump.
Turkey’s attempt to play a role in the international stabilization force in Gaza, coupled with its diplomatic efforts to influence the US stance on Israel, is viewed with suspicion by Israeli authorities, who consider Ankara too closely aligned with Hamas.
The situation underscores rising tensions in the region, with the warrants reflecting both legal claims and broader geopolitical disputes between Turkey and Israel.
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