Ankara targets 37 top Israeli officials, including defense ministers, citing 'systematic' crimes in Gaza. The move escalates tensions as Turkey lobbies for a role in the post-war stabilization force.
ANKARA/JERUSALEM — Turkey dramatically escalated its diplomatic conflict with Israel on Friday, announcing it had issued arrest warrants for genocide against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior officials over the war in Gaza.
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| Turkey has accused Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials of 'genocide and crimes against humanity' in Gaza (oliver contreras) |
The move, originating from the Istanbul prosecutor's office, was immediately met with a furious rebuttal from Israel, which labeled the charges a "contemptible PR stunt" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The announcement shatters the fragile diplomatic calm established by a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which has been in place in the devastated Palestinian territory since October 10 as part of President Donald Trump's regional peace plan.
Turkey Alleges 'Systematic' Crimes
The Istanbul prosecutor’s statement accused the Israeli officials of "genocide and crimes against humanity" that it alleges Israel "perpetrated systematically" in Gaza.
While a full list was not provided, the warrants target a total of 37 high-level suspects, including:
Defence Minister Israel Katz
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir
The prosecutor's statement specifically referenced the bombing of the "Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital," which was built by Turkey in the Gaza Strip and destroyed by an Israeli strike in March.
Turkey, which has been one of the war's most vocal critics, previously joined South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Islamist militant group Hamas immediately welcomed Turkey’s announcement, calling it a "commendable measure... confirming the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders."
Israel: 'A Tool for Silencing Rivals'
Israel’s response was swift and scathing. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel "firmly rejects, with contempt" the charges.
Writing in English on the social media platform X, Saar called the warrants "the latest PR stunt by the tyrant (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan."
Saar attacked the credibility of the Turkish legal system, stating: "In Erdogan's Turkey, the judiciary has long since become a tool for silencing political rivals and detaining journalists, judges and mayors."
He specifically referenced the controversial arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in March, stating the prosecutor's office "recently orchestrated the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul merely for daring to run against Erdogan."
For its part, Israel has consistently rejected all accusations of genocide from the UN, NGOs, and the ICJ case as "false" and "antisemitic."
Clash Over Post-War Gaza Role
The warrants land amid highly sensitive negotiations over the future of Gaza. Turkey has been aggressively lobbying for a significant role in the international stabilization force intended to play a key role in post-war governance under the Trump administration's plan.
Israel, which considers Turkey too close to Hamas, has repeatedly expressed its opposition to any Turkish participation.
Former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman seized on the warrants as definitive proof of Turkey's unsuitability. He wrote on X that the warrants "clearly explain why Turkey should not be present in the Gaza Strip directly or indirectly."
This legal maneuver by Istanbul is expected to further harden Israel's resolve to block Ankara from any role in Gaza's future.
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