Turkey issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and dozens of Israeli officials on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Friday, November 7, that the warrants target 37 individuals, including high-ranking political and military figures from Israel.
The list includes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and military chief Eyal Zamir. The allegations stem from Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for the enclave last month.
Israel swiftly condemned the move, calling it politically motivated. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed the warrants as a “PR stunt” orchestrated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He accused the Turkish judiciary of being “a tool for silencing rivals and detaining journalists, judges, and mayors,” referencing the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Israeli officials said the action lacks credibility and represents another diplomatic attempt by Ankara to challenge Israel’s legitimacy on the international stage.
Hamas Praises Turkey’s Stand
The Palestinian militant group Hamas welcomed Turkey’s decision, saying it reflected the “noble positions of the Turkish people and leadership.” Hamas called the move a moral stand against what it described as “systematic aggression” in Gaza.
The statement reinforced the growing divide between nations aligning with Israel and those supporting Palestinian resistance amid the ongoing conflict.
The Turkish warrants raise questions about Turkey’s possible role in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, a U.S.-backed initiative meant to uphold the recently brokered ceasefire and oversee security in the territory.
Earlier this week, several Muslim-majority nations held a meeting in Istanbul to discuss forming the ISF. The force aims to train a new Palestinian police unit and help stabilize Gaza following the recent hostilities.
U.S. officials have previously highlighted Turkey’s influence in mediating between Hamas and other regional actors, viewing it as a potential contributor to the plan. However, Israel has already stated it strongly opposes Turkish military involvement inside Gaza.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that Israel must approve any deployment of foreign troops within the enclave, stressing that the plan cannot move forward without Israeli consent.
The warrants from Turkey come nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its own arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes. The Israeli government dismissed that case as “absurd and antisemitic.”
Turkey’s move could add new diplomatic strain in an already tense geopolitical environment, testing international alliances and responses to the Gaza crisis.
While it remains uncertain how these warrants will be enforced, they underline Ankara’s growing willingness to confront Israel’s leadership directly through legal and political channels.
