URGENT UPDATE: The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has just announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 senior officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. This shocking development is unfolding amid rising tensions following Israel’s military response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which claimed approximately 1,200 lives.
According to Turkish media reports, the warrants cite the officials’ involvement in a “systematic” campaign of violence against civilians, including the bombing of humanitarian facilities like the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital. The retaliatory strikes have resulted in over 68,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by Gaza’s health authorities.
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul has stated that “evidence obtained” indicates Israeli officials are criminally responsible for these alleged acts, which they classify as both “crimes against humanity” and “genocide.” Notably, the warrant list also includes Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“The suspects could not be apprehended as they are not currently in Türkiye,” the statement read, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding this situation.
Israel has swiftly condemned the issuance of these warrants, labeling them a politically motivated maneuver by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a statement, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed Israel’s rejection of the accusations, calling the announcement “a PR stunt.”
This move by Türkiye follows earlier accusations by a UN commission that also claimed Israel committed acts amounting to genocide. Furthermore, Netanyahu is already facing an existing arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), along with former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and several Hamas leaders, issued in 2024.
Israel, which is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, continues to deny these allegations. Its close ally, the United States, has also exerted pressure on the ICC, including blacklisting judges and prosecutors.
Recent developments indicate that despite a ceasefire agreement in early October brokered by former President Donald Trump, violence continues to erupt, leading to hundreds of Palestinian deaths and at least two Israeli soldiers killed. Both sides remain entrenched in a cycle of blame over violations of the truce.
This situation is rapidly evolving, and the international community is watching closely for further escalations. What happens next could have significant implications for regional stability and international law. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
