On Friday, 28th November 2025, Turkey issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and numerous other Israeli officials, charging them with genocide. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that it had issued warrants against 37 individuals in total.
The warrants target several high-ranking Israeli officials beyond Netanyahu, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and military chief Eyal Zamir. The charges include "crimes against humanity" and "genocide," which prosecutors claim were committed in Gaza and against a flotilla that was carrying aid to the territory. Israeli authorities had intercepted this aid flotilla the previous month.
Israel responded swiftly to condemn and reject the warrants. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar characterized the action as a "PR stunt" orchestrated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sa'ar criticized Turkey's judicial system, stating that "In Erdogan's Turkey, the judiciary has long since become a tool for silencing political rivals and detaining journalists, judges, and mayors." He referenced the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu earlier in the year as an example. Imamoglu, who is considered a key political rival of Erdogan, was arrested in March during corruption and terrorism investigations.
Hamas welcomed Turkey's decision to issue the warrants, describing the move as confirmation of "the noble positions of the Turkish people and its leadership."
The Turkish warrants have raised significant questions about Turkey's potential role in a multinational security force for Gaza, which is designed to support the US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Earlier in the week, several Muslim-majority nations had gathered in Istanbul to discuss establishing an international stabilization force (ISF) for Gaza. This force represents a crucial component of US President Donald Trump's comprehensive 20-point ceasefire plan. The temporary force would be responsible for training a new Palestinian police force and helping to stabilize the region.
US officials have identified Turkey as a potential participant in this security force, particularly given Turkey's significant role in persuading Hamas to agree to the ceasefire. However, the specific role that Turkey might play in the force remains unclear. Israel has explicitly stated its opposition to the deployment of Turkish troops in Gaza.
US Vice President JD Vance has emphasized that Israel will ultimately need to provide consent for any foreign troops to be stationed in Gaza.
The Turkish warrants for Netanyahu and other officials come nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its own warrant for the Israeli leader, accusing him of war crimes. Netanyahu's office had previously dismissed the ICC warrant as "absurd and antisemitic."