Turkey issues genocide arrest warrant against Netanyahu

AFP/APP

Istanbul: Turkey announced on Friday that it had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior officials in his government on charges of genocide over the ongoing war in Gaza.

The move drew a sharp reaction from Israel, whose Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel “firmly rejects, with contempt” the charges, describing them as “the latest PR stunt by the tyrant (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan.”

According to a statement issued by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, a total of 37 Israeli officials have been named in the warrants, though no full list was released.

Those targeted reportedly include Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/trump-says-expects-intl-stabilization-force-in-gaza-very-soon/

The Turkish authorities have accused the officials of committing “genocide and crimes against humanity” that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” in Gaza.

The statement also referred to the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza — built by Turkey — which was bombed by Israeli forces in March.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory since October 10, as part of US President Donald Trump’s regional peace plan.

The Islamist group Hamas welcomed Ankara’s announcement, calling it a “commendable measure” that “confirms the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders, who remain committed to the values of justice, humanity and fraternity that bind them to our oppressed Palestinian people.”