Istanbul: Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office named Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Army Chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir among the suspects. The statement alleges that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” these crimes during its military operations in the Palestinian territory.
It also referenced the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza, which was built by Turkey and struck by Israeli forces in March.
Israel dismissed the move as politically motivated. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the warrants as a “PR stunt” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkey previously joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The latest legal action comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, in place since 10 October under a regional peace plan led by US President Donald Trump.