Turkiye issues genocide arrest warrants for Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials
On November 7 2025, the Turkiyen authorities announced that arrest warrants had been issued for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior Israeli officials, accusing them of “genocide and crimes against humanity” in relation to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The prosecution office in Istanbul said the list of suspects includes Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and army chief Eyal Zamir.
In its statement, Turkey cited specific incidents as evidence: the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza, widespread civilian deaths and the denial of humanitarian access under Israeli operations in Gaza.
The Israeli government swiftly rejected the move, calling it a “PR stunt” and asserting that such prosecutions are politically motivated. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described it as “the latest PR stunt by the tyrant Recep Tayyip Erdogan”.
Observers say the legal action represents a dramatic escalation in Turkey-Israel relations, with Turkey aligning its foreign-policy posture more closely with the Palestinian cause in recent years. Analysts caution, however, that such arrest warrants have limited practical effect unless the suspects travel to Turkey or another jurisdiction that recognises and enforces Turkey’s prosecutorial request.
The move occurs against a backdrop of intense scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and Turkey’s own participation in legal efforts such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide. Turkey joined that case earlier this year.
