November 8, 2025 | 03:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul in Turkey issued arrest warrants on Friday for Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, and 36 other Israeli officials, on charges of "genocide" and "crimes against humanity in Gaza."
The prosecutor's office stated in a release as reported by TRT World that the arrest warrants were issued following an investigation into what was referred to as Israel's "systematic" attacks on civilians in Gaza.
The suspects include Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi, and Navy Commander David Saar Salama, and they are accused of perpetrating "genocide" and "crimes against humanity."
As they are currently not in Turkey, the prosecution has requested the court to issue international arrest warrants (red notices) for their detention and extradition.
The investigation began after complaints from a number of victims and members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian aid mission obstructed by the Israeli navy as it sought to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
The statement asserted that evidence gathered from the victims, eyewitnesses, and international legal provisions indicated that Israeli military and political leaders were directly responsible for the orders and execution of attacks on hospitals, aid convoys, and civilian infrastructure.
Citing specific incidents, the prosecutor's office referred to the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab by Israeli forces with 355 tank shells, the bombing of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital which claimed over 500 lives, and the attack on the Turkey-Palestine Friendship Hospital, among various other atrocities.
War Crimes
The investigation established that Israel's blockade of Gaza since March 2, 2025, had "deliberately prevented humanitarian assistance from reaching civilians," which constitutes an additional war crime under international law.
The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the Istanbul Police Department and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and is ongoing.
The statement concluded that Turkey's legal action is based on its obligations under international humanitarian law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), affirming the state's commitment to accountability for war crimes and justice for the victims in Gaza.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in the enclave.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the arrest warrants in a post on the social media platform X, calling it a "PR stunt" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He stated that Israel "firmly rejects, with contempt" the move.
Erdogan has been one of Israel's strongest critics during its military campaign in Gaza, which escalated after Hamas' October 2023 attack.
The Palestinian health authorities stated that over 68,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, and much of the territory has been reduced to rubble. The majority of the casualties have been Palestinian women and children.
Turkey also played a role as one of the guarantor states for the ceasefire agreement in Gaza reached last month.
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