Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, alleges that numerous Israeli officials have committed “systematic” offenses targeting civilians in Gaza
Turkish media outlets report that the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 additional high-ranking officials on charges of alleged genocide and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
Israel initiated its military actions following the Hamas-led incursion on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths. Gaza’s health authorities indicate that these subsequent retaliatory attacks and ground incursions have since claimed the lives of more than 68,000 Palestinians.
These warrants, issued by Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, allege that Israeli officials were involved in a “systematic” campaign of violence targeting civilians, citing instances such as the bombing of the Turkish‑Palestinian Friendship Hospital and impeding humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.
Earlier this year, a UN commission similarly alleged that Israel had committed acts amounting to . Netanyahu is already subject to a standing arrest warrant, issued by the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024, which also targets former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and several Hamas leaders.
Israel, not being a signatory to the Rome Statute, has dismissed these accusations. The United States, a close ally and also not a party to the ICC, has initiated a pressure campaign against the court, which includes blacklisting several of its judges and prosecutors.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in early October as part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan – a measure the US leader claims is one of eight wars he concluded in eight months. However, violence has recurrently flared since then, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and at least two Israeli soldiers, as both sides continue to exchange accusations regarding breaches of the truce.