The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants yesterday against 37 Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
The decision follows an investigation which concluded that Israeli officials bore criminal responsibility for what were described as systematic acts of genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The warrants also name the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which was stopped by Israeli forces last month. Other prominent names on the list include Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir and Navy Commander David Saar Salama.
Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and officials like Yoav Gallant and Herzi Halevi, accusing them of 'genocide' in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/wLQahUXZol
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 7, 2025
As those named in the warrant are not in Turkey, the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace approved their detention warrants under Articles 76 and 77 of the Turkish Penal Code, which cover genocide and crimes against humanity. The prosecutor’s office said the investigation was continuing “with precision and in a multifaceted manner".
What is the case about?
The case stems from a complaint by the Istanbul Bar Association, which urged prosecutors to hold Israeli officials accountable for atrocities in Gaza.
The Association’s chair, Yasin Samli, told Turkish media that the decision marked a significant moment in the pursuit of international justice, and emphasised that under Turkish law, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes carry no statute of limitations.
Turkish prosecutors blame Israel for events such as the October 17, 2023 attack on the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital (which killed 500 people) and the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in March 2024.
Turkish officials allege that Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023 resulted in the deaths of around 70,000 people, mostly women and children, and left more than 170,000 injured before a ceasefire brokered by the US took effect last month.
The prosecutor’s office said these acts were carried out “systematically” and amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity under both Turkish and international law.
Israel's response
Israel condemned the move, describing the warrants as a political stunt rather than a legal measure.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Ankara of using its judiciary as a political instrument, claiming the Turkish system had long ceased to operate independently.
Former Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman argued that the warrants demonstrated why Turkey should not play any role in Gaza’s post-war stabilisation.
Turkey's justification behind the case
The Turkish government, however, maintains that its actions are consistent with international law. Ankara has been increasingly vocal in supporting efforts to hold Israel accountable through international institutions, having joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice last year.
Hamas welcomed the Istanbul court’s decision, calling it a commendable step that reflected Turkey’s commitment to justice, humanity, and solidarity with Palestinians. It also urged other nations to pursue similar legal action against Israeli leaders accused of war crimes.
The Istanbul Bar Association played a prominent role in initiating the process, having filed complaints not only with Turkish prosecutors, but also with the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Samli condemned what he described as Israel’s continued campaign of violence despite ceasefire agreements, and cited specific cases as evidence of systematic brutality.
He also argued that Israel’s actions had created instability far beyond Gaza, pointing to attacks attributed to Israeli forces in Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq, Malta, and Egypt in the past two years.
Israel and the International Criminal Court
Turkey’s decision follows similar developments at the international level.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Turkish warrants have claimed jurisdiction under domestic law to prosecute genocide wherever it occurs.
Legal experts in Turkey have noted that the case reflects Ankara’s broader assertion of universal jurisdiction over grave international crimes.
Turkish law allows courts to prosecute such offences even when committed outside national borders, provided the acts constitute violations of humanity recognised under international law.
