The warrants were issued at the request of the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul, who stated in a statement that, as a result of the systematic genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the State of Israel in Gaza to date, thousands of people, including women and children, have lost their lives, thousands of others have been injured, and residential areas have become unusable.
He reminded that six-year-old Hind Rajab was killed by Israeli soldiers with 335 bullets on January 29, 2024.
“Since October 7, 2023, such actions have continued to escalate daily. The attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on October 17, 2023 claimed 500 lives, on February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers deliberately destroyed medical equipment, on March 21, 2025, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was bombed, many other health facilities were also attacked in a similar manner way. Gaza was placed under blockade, and the victims were denied access to humanitarian aid,” the statement said.
It is also reported that this situation attracted a lot of attention from the international community and that activists on the Sumud Global Flotilla sailed towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, only to be attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters.
It is added that an ex officio investigation has been launched into this attack under Articles 12 and 13 of the Criminal Code of Turkey, Article 15 of the Criminal Procedure Law and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the crimes of torture, aggravated robbery, damage to property, deprivation of liberty and kidnapping or detention of transport vehicles.
The statement states that the victims detained by Israel were sent to Turkey by plane on October 4, 7, 9 and 10, where they underwent medical and psychological examinations at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul, and the reports were submitted to the prosecution.
“Our Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office took statements from individuals in the capacity of victims and applicants, and letters were sent to the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate and the National Intelligence Organization in order to reveal the material truth and identify individuals with criminal responsibility in the incident,” the prosecution said.
During the investigation, legal representatives of the victims also submitted requests to the prosecutor’s office regarding the procedure, and the Istanbul Bar Association filed a criminal complaint on Friday.
“In light of the evidence collected, it has been established that Israeli state officials bear criminal responsibility for the systematic acts of crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Gaza, as well as for the acts committed against the Sumud Global Flotilla,” it added.
“It was determined that the suspects cannot be arrested, as they are not currently in Turkey. At the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, on November 7, 2025, the duty Criminal Court in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir and Navy Commander David Saar Salama, on charges of crimes against humanity under Article 77 and genocide under Article 76 of the Turkish Criminal Code,” the statement said.
The statement added that the investigation is being conducted in detail and comprehensively.
(Vijesti.ba)
