CITIZENS NEWS

Turkey issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials over Gaza genocide

By kevinhughes // 2025-11-09

• Turkey's Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior officials, accusing them of "genocide and crimes against humanity" in Gaza, including bombing hospitals and blocking humanitarian aid.
• Israel dismissed the warrants as a "PR stunt" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, citing Turkey's own crackdown on dissent, while Hamas praised Turkey's move as a "commendable measure."
• This follows the ICC's 2024 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes, which Israel rejects, claiming the ICC lacks jurisdiction. Turkey also joined South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel.
• A U.S.-brokered ceasefire remains fragile, with Israel opposing any Turkish military role in Gaza due to Ankara's ties to Hamas. Turkey seeks involvement in a proposed multinational security force for Gaza.
• While Netanyahu and Israeli officials remain beyond Turkey's legal reach, the warrants symbolize mounting global condemnation of Israel's Gaza campaign, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and accusations of war crimes.

Turkey has escalated its legal and diplomatic confrontation with Israel by issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior Israeli officials, accusing them of "genocide and crimes against humanity" in Gaza. The move, announced Friday, Nov. 7, by Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, marks one of the most aggressive legal actions taken against Israeli leadership since the war began in October 2023. The warrants accuse Israeli officials of orchestrating a "systematic" campaign of violence against Palestinian civilians, including the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital and obstruction of humanitarian aid. The list includes Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Navy Commander David Saar Salama. "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," the prosecutor's office stated. However, it acknowledged that the suspects "could not be apprehended as they are not currently in Türkiye." Israel swiftly condemned the warrants as politically motivated. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar dismissed them as a "PR stunt by the tyrant [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan," referencing Turkey’s crackdown on political dissent. "In Erdogan's Turkey, the judiciary has long since become a tool for silencing political rivals and detaining journalists, judges and mayors," Sa'ar wrote on X, alluding to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu earlier this year. Hamas, meanwhile, praised Turkey's move, calling it a "commendable measure [confirming] the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders."

Broader legal and diplomatic fallout

This is not the first time Netanyahu has faced international legal action. In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. Israel, which does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, rejected those charges as "absurd and antisemitic." According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Israel's reaction to the ICC issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was swift and resolute, characterized by a strong rejection of the warrant's legitimacy and an assertion of Israel's sovereignty. It was one of strong rejection, based on its legal stance that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over its actions and its political stance that the warrant is part of a broader anti-Israel bias. Israel has made it clear that it will not cooperate with the ICC's request and will continue to assert its sovereignty in the face of what it sees as international overreach. Turkey has also joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), further straining relations. The war in Gaza has killed over 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, while Israel maintains its actions are self-defense following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. A fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire has held since October, but violence has repeatedly flared. Meanwhile, discussions continue over a proposed multinational security force for Gaza—a key part of U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. Turkey, which played a role in securing Hamas' ceasefire agreement, has expressed interest in participating in the stabilization force. However, Israel has firmly opposed any Turkish military presence in Gaza, citing Ankara's ties to Hamas. Turkey's arrest warrants deepen the geopolitical rift between Ankara and Jerusalem, raising questions about future diplomatic relations and the feasibility of international intervention in Gaza. As legal battles intensify, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with accusations of genocide and war crimes continuing to fuel global debate. For now, Netanyahu and his officials remain beyond Turkey's legal reach—but the symbolic condemnation underscores the growing international pressure on Israel to justify its military campaign in Gaza. Watch the statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan demanding an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu below. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com Edition.CNN.com TimesOfIsrael.com AlJazeera.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com

Donald Trump Israel evil genocide twisted turkey big government Hamas depopulation Istanbul Jerusalem outrage Benjamin Netanyahu Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrest warrants Gaza ICC Yoav Gallant Israel Katz Itamar Ben Gvir ICJ peace plan Eyal Zamir Ankara Gideon Sa’ar David Saar Salama