Istanbul accuses these officials of committing crimes against humanity and ethnic violence.
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Turkey has issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Istanbul prosecutor's office said that arrest warrants have been issued for 37 Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, as well as the Minister of National Security and the Chief of Army Staff.
Istanbul accuses these officials of crimes against humanity and ethnic violence. Israel is accused of committing such crimes in an institutionalized manner during the war that began in Gaza in October 2023. 'On October 17, 2023, 500 people were killed in an attack on the Al-Ali Baptist Hospital. On February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers destroyed medical supplies. Gaza was blockaded and humanitarian aid was not allowed to reach the victims,' the statement said.
The statement mentioned that Israel bombed the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital built by Turkey in Gaza last March.
Israel responded by saying that Turkey took such a step for cheap propaganda. “We reject this latest stunt by dictator Recep Erdogan,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on social media.
The Palestinian group Hamas welcomed the announcement. “We commend the Turkish people and their leaders, who are committed to the principles of justice, humanity and brotherhood, for their solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
Turkey’s announcement comes nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister for war crimes.
