TURKIYE: Turkiye has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other top Israeli officials on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza since October 2023.

According to a statement released on Friday by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, the suspects include Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

The office did not release the full list of accused individuals.Turkish prosecutors accuse the Israeli leadership of systematically committing atrocities against civilians in Gaza.

The statement cites multiple incidents, including the October 17, 2023, bombing of al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which killed around 500 people, and the February 29, 2024, destruction of medical equipment by Israeli forces.

It also condemns Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has prevented humanitarian aid from reaching those in need, and highlights the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in March 2024 — a facility built by Turkiye to support Gaza’s healthcare system.

Ankara has repeatedly accused Israel of war crimes and called for international accountability as the humanitarian crisis deepens in the besieged enclave.