In a move that has deepened already tense relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, Turkey announced arrest warrants on Friday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several high-ranking officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
According to the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, the warrants cover 37 Israeli officials involved in the war. The names publicly confirmed include Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Israel’s army chief. The statement alleged that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” a campaign of “genocide and crimes against humanity” in the besieged enclave.
The prosecutors also cited the destruction of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza constructed with Turkish funding which was struck during Israeli air raids in March.
Israel Condemns Ankara’s Move
The reaction from Israel was swift and scathing.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the development on X, writing: “Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan.”
He continued, “In Erdoğan’s Turkey, the judiciary has long since become a tool for silencing political rivals and detaining journalists, judges, and mayors.” Saar’s remarks referenced the earlier detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a vocal political rival of Erdoğan.
Former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman also criticised Turkey’s announcement, saying on X that the move “clearly explains why Turkey should not be present in the Gaza Strip directly or indirectly.”
Hamas Backs Turkey’s Decision
The militant group Hamas welcomed Ankara’s initiative, calling it “a commendable measure (confirming) the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders, who are committed to the values of justice, humanity and fraternity that bind them to our oppressed Palestinian people.”
Turkey’s latest action comes amid its push to play a role in a proposed international stabilisation mission for Gaza, part of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Despite Ankara’s diplomatic outreach, Israeli officials have repeatedly opposed any Turkish participation, arguing that President Erdoğan maintains close ties with Hamas.
Background: Ceasefire and Legal Efforts
A tenuous ceasefire established on October 10 under Trump’s regional peace framework continues to hold across much of Gaza, though the humanitarian crisis remains severe.
The arrest warrants mark the latest escalation in Turkey’s long-running legal campaign against Israel. In 2024, Ankara became one of the countries supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), strengthening its stance as one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s military operations.
Diplomatic Fallout and Broader Context
Ties between Turkey and Israel, already strained for years, have worsened sharply since the Gaza war began. Ankara has repeatedly accused Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinians, while Israel dismisses those claims as “false” and “antisemitic.”
Israel also argues that Turkey’s legal accusations are politically motivated, aimed at bolstering President Erdoğan’s image among Muslim-majority nations. The move, Israeli officials warn, could further isolate Turkey from regional peace efforts.
Despite the tensions, Turkey has continued to lobby for influence in post-war Gaza through diplomatic channels and humanitarian appeals, portraying itself as a defender of Palestinian rights.
