Istanbul Court Warrants Netanyahu, 36 Israelis for Genocide

An Istanbul court issued arrest warrants on November 7, 2025, for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity related to Israel's military actions in Gaza since October 2023.

The warrants, requested by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, target a total of 37 individuals, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Navy Commander David Saar Salama. The prosecutor's office stated that the officials bear criminal responsibility for systematic acts that have resulted in thousands of deaths, including women and children, widespread injuries, and the destruction of residential areas and infrastructure in Gaza. Prosecutors cited specific incidents, such as the October 17, 2023, attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which killed approximately 500 people; the January 29, 2024, killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab by Israeli soldiers; and the March 2025 bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which Turkey had built in Gaza. The office also referenced a blockade that has denied...