UPDATE: In an urgent move, the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 senior officials for alleged genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza. This shocking announcement comes as Türkiye accuses these officials of participating in a “systematic” campaign of violence against civilians, particularly following Israel’s military operations that began after the deadly Hamas-led raid on October 7, 2023.
The conflict has escalated dramatically since that day, with over 68,000 Palestinians reported dead due to Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The warrants, issued on Friday, specifically cite actions such as the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian relief efforts in the region.
In a statement from Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was declared, “In light of the evidence obtained, it has been determined that Israeli state officials bear criminal responsibility for the systematic acts of ‘crimes against humanity’ and ‘genocide’ committed in Gaza.” However, the statement notes that these suspects cannot be apprehended as they are not currently in Türkiye.
Israel has condemned the warrants as politically motivated, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissing the actions as a “PR stunt” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier this year, a UN commission also accused Israel of committing acts that could amount to genocide, intensifying international scrutiny.
Netanyahu is already facing an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued in 2024, which also targets former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and several Hamas leaders. Israel, which is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, has firmly rejected these accusations, and its ally, the United States, has engaged in a pressure campaign against the ICC, including actions against its judges and prosecutors.
Tensions remain high, as a ceasefire brokered in early October under former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly broken down, leading to further violence. Hundreds of Palestinians and at least two Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, with both sides trading blame over breaches of the truce.
As the international community watches closely, the implications of these arrest warrants could further strain relations between Türkiye and Israel, and amplify calls for accountability in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
