Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The Istanbul prosecutor’s office released a statement on Friday naming 37 suspects, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, though the full list was not published. According to the statement, the officials are accused of “systematically perpetrating” atrocities in Gaza since October 2023.
The move underscores Turkey’s continued criticism of Israel, following its participation last year alongside South Africa in a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The statement also highlighted the bombing of the “Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital” in Gaza by Israeli forces in March, which Israel dismissed as a “PR stunt.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded sharply on X, condemning the move as a propaganda tactic by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Hamas welcomed Turkey’s announcement, praising it as a “commendable measure” that reflects the commitment of the Turkish people and leadership to justice, humanity, and solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Turkish action follows last year’s International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Since the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023, at least 68,875 Palestinians have been killed and 170,679 injured, according to reports.
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