A warrant for the arrest of 37 Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, has been issued from Turkey.

08.11.2025 04:10

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for 37 Israeli officials on charges of "genocide" and "crimes against humanity." Among those for whom arrest warrants have been issued are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, and Navy Commander David Saar Selama.

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The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a statement regarding the investigation conducted due to the massacres in the Gaza Strip by Israel and the attacks on the Global Sumud Fleet.

ARREST WARRANT FOR 37 ISRAELI OFFICIALS, INCLUDING NETANYAHU

The statement noted that an arrest warrant has been issued for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Minister of Border Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, and Commander of the Navy David Saar Selama, on charges of "genocide" and "crimes against humanity."

In the statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the following was expressed: "As a result of the genocide and crimes against humanity systematically carried out 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 become uninhabitable. On January 29, 2024, a 6-year-old girl named Hind Recep was killed by Israeli soldiers with 335 bullets. Particularly since October 7, 2023, the mentioned actions have continued to increase day by day. As a result of the attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on October 17, 2023, more than 500 people lost their lives in the hospital building. On February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers targeted a civilian bread queue, and on March 21, 2025, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was bombed. Similarly, many health institutions have been attacked, and Gaza has been under blockade, preventing victims from accessing humanitarian aid. This situation has also gained widespread attention in the world public opinion."

"TORTURE, QUALIFIED THEFT, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY..."

In this context, regarding the victims detained as a result of attacks on the ships within the Global Sumud Fleet, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid, and the activists who went to Gaza by land with this ship, an investigation has been initiated by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ex officio under the crimes of "Torture, Qualified Theft, Damage to Property, Deprivation of Liberty, and Abduction or Detention of a Means of Transportation," in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Article 15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271, and Article 13 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237.

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

Our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has consulted the individuals as victims/complainants, and during the investigation process, in order to uncover the material truth and identify those who bear criminal responsibility in the incident, letters have been written to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

During the investigation process, it has been reported that the representatives of the victims of the Global Sumud Fleet submitted a number of petitions to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the ongoing process, and on November 7, 2025, the Istanbul Bar Association sent a petition to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as a notification of a crime. 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 carried out against the Global Sumud Fleet.

ACCUSATIONS OF "GENOCIDE" AND "CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY"

It has been determined that the suspects could not be apprehended due to their current absence from our country. Upon the request of our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on November 7, 2025, the Istanbul Duty Magistrate's Court issued an arrest warrant for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael KATZ, Israeli Minister of Border Security Tamara Ben GVİR, Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal ZAMİR, and Israeli Navy Commander David Saar SELAMA, for "Crimes Against Humanity" as regulated in Article 77 of the Turkish Penal Code and "Genocide" as regulated in Article 76 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The investigation is being conducted meticulously and from multiple angles.

It is announced to the public."