Turkey issues genocide arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for alleged genocide against 37 government officials, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

This also includes the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the army chief, Eyal Zamir, The Guardian reported.

These names were released in a statement from the Istanbul prosecutor’s office but the full list of names were not revealed.

"Genocide and crimes against humanity"

The officials are accused of “genocide and crimes against humanity” which Israel has “perpetrated systematically” in Gaza.

The statement also refers to the “Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital,” built by Turkey in the Gaza Strip and bombed by Israel in March.

Meanwhile, Israel denounced the warrant with a firm rebuttal.

Israel foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar, said on X: “Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant Erdoğan.”

Turkey's president is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is is known to be a staunch supporter of Hamas.

Turkey also joined South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the international court of justice in 2024.

Palestine and Israel had entered a "fragile" ceasefire since Oct. 10 as part of U.S. president Donald Trump’s regional peace plan.

However, Gaza has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since the truce came into effect.

Top photo from Benjamin Netanyahu/Facebook