Arrest warrant for Netanyahu from Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued arrest warrants for 37 high-ranking Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for the crime of 'genocide'.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that arrest warrants have been issued for 37 Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of 'genocide'.

The statement, which asserts that the State of Israel has systematically committed genocide in Gaza to date, included the following remarks: "It has been understood that as a result of the genocide and crimes against humanity systematically committed by the State of Israel in Gaza to date, thousands of people, including women and children, have lost their lives, thousands more have been injured, and residential areas have been rendered unusable; that on January 29, 2024, a 6-year-old girl named 'Hind Rajab' was massacred by Israeli soldiers with 335 bullets; that these actions have been increasing day by day, especially since October 7, 2023; that 500 people lost their lives in the attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on October 17, 2023; that medical equipment was deliberately destroyed by Israeli soldiers on February 29, 2024; that the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was bombed on March 21, 2025; that similar attacks were carried out on many other healthcare facilities; and that Gaza has been placed under blockade, with victims being prevented from accessing humanitarian aid, a situation that has received widespread attention from the global public."

The statement also noted that an ex officio investigation was launched due to the attack on the Sumud Flotilla in international waters, which violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the deprivation of individuals' liberty. It stated: "Activists participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid were traveling toward Gaza by sea when the Global Sumud Flotilla was attacked by elements of the Israeli Navy in international waters. Regarding the victims detained as a result of this attack, an ex officio investigation has been initiated by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the framework of the regulations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the jurisdiction rules in Article 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271, and the duty rules in Articles 12-13 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, covering the crimes of 'torture, qualified robbery, damage to property, deprivation of liberty, and hijacking or detaining means of transportation'."

The statement continued as follows:

"The victims detained by the State of Israel were sent to our country by air on October 4, 2025, October 7, 2025, October 9, 2025, and October 10, 2025. Following their return to our country, the victims underwent forensic and psychological examinations at the Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine, and the resulting forensic examination reports were sent to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Statements were taken from the individuals as victims/complainants by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. During the ongoing investigation, writs were issued to the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to uncover the material truth and identify those with criminal responsibility for the incident. During the investigation process, it was determined that the victims of the Global Sumud Flotilla had submitted several petitions to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through their attorneys, and that a criminal complaint in the nature of a notification was sent to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2 on November 7, 2025. In light of the evidence obtained, it has been determined that the Israeli state officials listed below bear criminal responsibility for the 'crimes against humanity and genocide' systematically committed in Gaza and for the actions taken against the Global Sumud Flotilla."

The statement, which noted that arrest warrants were issued for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, concluded: "Upon determining that the suspects could not be apprehended as they are not currently in our country, the Istanbul Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace, upon the request of our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on November 7, 2025, issued arrest warrants for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, and Israeli Navy Commander David Saar Salama, for the crimes of 'crimes against humanity' regulated in Article 77 of the Turkish Penal Code and 'genocide' regulated in Article 76 of the Turkish Penal Code. The investigation is continuing meticulously and in a multi-faceted manner."

News Source: İHA