The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants on 7 November 2025 for 37 Israeli officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.” The decision is linked to attacks on civilians in Gaza and interventions against the Global Sumud Fleet. This process constitutes one of the judicial initiatives taken under Articles 76 and 77 of the Turkish Criminal Code within the framework of international criminal law.
Initiation of the Investigation
The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an official investigation ex officio into civilian deaths attacks on healthcare facilities and obstruction of humanitarian aid during the military operations in Gaza which began in 2023 and are still ongoing as of 2025. The investigation is based on international jurisdiction provisions under Article 15 of Law No. 5271 on Criminal Procedure and Articles 12 and 13 of Law No. 5237 on the Turkish Criminal Code.
Within this framework incidents causing harm to Turkish citizens and victims connected to Türkiye have been examined particularly in relation to interventions against the Global Sumud Fleet. It has been established that civilian activists aboard the fleet were prevented by the Israeli Navy from reaching Gaza while sailing in international waters to deliver humanitarian aid.
Evidence and Complaints
On 7 November 2025 the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2 filed a criminal complaint alleging “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.” Additionally petitions were submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office by representatives of the victims of the Global Sumud Fleet. The individuals identified as victims were brought to Türkiye by air between 4 and 10 October 2025 and underwent forensic and psychological examinations at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution. The resulting reports and victim statements have been added to the investigation file. Written directives have been issued to the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to establish the material facts.
The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office stated:
Thousands of people including women and children have lost their lives and thousands more have been injured as a result of the systematic genocide and crimes against humanity carried out by the State of Israel in Gaza to date. Settlements have been rendered unusable. On 29 January 2024 six-year-old Hind Recep was killed by Israeli soldiers with 335 bullets. The aforementioned acts have continued and intensified daily since 7 October 2023. On 17 October 2023 an attack on al-Ehli Baptist Hospital resulted in the deaths of 500 people inside the facility. On 29 February 2024 Israeli forces deliberately destroyed medical equipment. On 21 March 2025 the Turkish Palestine Friendship Hospital was bombed. Similarly numerous other healthcare facilities have been targeted. Gaza has been subjected to a blockade and access to humanitarian aid for victims has been obstructed. This situation has gained widespread attention in global public opinion.
In this context activists within the Global Sumud Fleet embarked on maritime vessels to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli naval forces attacked these vessels in international waters. In light of the attacks the Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an ex officio investigation under charges of “torture aggravated robbery causing damage to property deprivation of liberty and seizure or detention of means of transportation” in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Article 15 of Law No. 5271 on Criminal Procedure and Articles 12 and 13 of Law No. 5237 on the Turkish Criminal Code.
Charges and Legal Basis
According to the Prosecutor’s Office the military operations conducted systematically by the State of Israel in Gaza are classified as “crimes against humanity” and “genocide.” It has been determined that since 7 October 2023 thousands of civilians have been killed settlements have been destroyed healthcare facilities have been targeted and access to humanitarian aid has been obstructed.
The Prosecutor’s Office has included specific incidents in the case file as concrete examples including the killing of six-year-old Hind Recep with 335 bullets on 29 January 2024 the attack on al-Ehli Baptist Hospital on 17 October 2023 which resulted in 500 deaths and the bombing of the Turkish Palestine Friendship Hospital on 21 March 2025.
Based on these findings criminal responsibility has been established under the provisions of Article 76 of the Turkish Criminal Code on “genocide” and Article 77 on “crimes against humanity.”
Arrest Warrants and Scope
Pursuant to the request of the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office the Istanbul Emergency Peace Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on 7 November 2025 for 37 individuals. The warrants cover high-ranking officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Defense Minister Israel Katz Border Security Minister Tamara Ben Gvir Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir and Commander of the Navy David Saar Salama.
The Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that these individuals are not present in Türkiye and has announced the initiation of an international arrest process.
