Türkiye has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several top Israeli officials on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, authorities said Friday.

According to a statement from the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, a total of 37 Israeli officials are accused, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Army Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. The full list of suspects was not made public.

The prosecutor’s statement alleged that Israel has carried out “systematic acts of genocide and crimes against humanity” in Gaza since October 2023. It cited several incidents, including the October 17, 2023 strike on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital that killed 500 people, and the February 29, 2024 destruction of medical equipment by Israeli forces.

It also referred to the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza, which was built by Türkiye and struck by Israeli forces in March.

In response, Israel dismissed the move as political posturing. “Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a post on X.

The Palestinian group Hamas praised Türkiye’s action, calling it a “commendable step” that reflected the “principled stance of the Turkish people and their leadership, who stand by justice, humanity, and solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people.”

The announcement comes nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued similar arrest warrants for Netanyahu and then–defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. Türkiye has also supported South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide.

Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched in October 2023, has so far killed at least 68,875 Palestinians and injured more than 170,000, according to local health authorities.

Source Al Jazeera