Turkey Issues ‘Genocide’ Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu And Other Israeli Officials

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and numerous other Israeli officials on charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.” The warrants, released by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, November 7, target a total of 37 individuals.

In addition to Netanyahu, the list includes prominent officials such as Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and military chief Eyal Zamir. The accusations arise from actions in Gaza and the interception of a flotilla carrying aid to the enclave by Israeli authorities last month.

Israel swiftly denounced and rejected the warrants.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar promptly dismissed the action as a “PR stunt” orchestrated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sa’ar criticized the Turkish judicial system, stating that it “has long since become a tool for silencing political rivals and detaining journalists, judges, and mayors,” referencing the prior arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

In contrast, the Palestinian militant group Hamas praised the warrants, stating the action “confirms the noble positions of the Turkish people and its leadership.”

The Turkish warrants raise important questions about the potential role Turkey might play in a multinational security force for Gaza, a measure designed to uphold the recently negotiated U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement.

Earlier this week, several Muslim-majority nations convened in Istanbul to discuss an International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, a critical component of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. The temporary force is intended to train a new Palestinian police force and assist in stabilizing the enclave.

U.S. officials have previously mentioned Turkey as a potential participant, given its significant role in securing Hamas’s agreement to a ceasefire.

Despite this, Israel has made it unequivocally clear that it opposes the presence of Turkish troops in Gaza. U.S. Vice President JD Vance has stressed that Israel will ultimately need to approve the presence of any foreign troops in the territory.

The Turkish warrants come nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the Israeli leader, also accusing him of war crimes, a warrant which the prime minister’s office similarly dismissed as “absurd and antisemitic.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli