Turkish Government issues arrest warrant for Israel PM Netanyahu over Gaza genocide

Turkish Government issues arrest warrant for Israel PM Netanyahu over Gaza genocide
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Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Gaza genocide against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, Maktoob Media reported.

Turkey has accused the officials of “genocide and crimes against humanity” that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” in its genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023.

“The October 17, 2023, attack on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital claimed 500 lives; on February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers deliberately destroyed medical equipment; … Gaza was placed under blockade, and victims were denied access to humanitarian aid,” it said.

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

Among 37 suspects listed are Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, according to a Friday statement from the Istanbul prosecutor’s office.

Turkey’s announcement comes almost one year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged “war crimes.”

Hamas welcomed the announcement, calling it a “commendable measure [confirming] the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders, who are committed to the values of justice, humanity and fraternity that bind them to our oppressed Palestinian people”.

Israel denounced the move as a “PR stunt”.