Minister of Defense Israel Katz, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Naval Commander David Saar Salama are among the Israeli officials charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that an investigation had determined that Israeli state officials were criminally responsible for “systematic acts of genocide and crimes against humanity” committed in Gaza and for actions targeting the Global Muddy Fleet.
The prosecutor’s office announced that the Istanbul Criminal and Peace Court issued a detention warrant on November 7, 2025, at the request of the prosecutor’s office, under Articles 76 and 77 of the Turkish Penal Code, which cover genocide and crimes against humanity, as the suspects cannot be detained as they are not currently in Turkiye.
Authorities said the investigation is “exact and multifaceted.”
After filing the criminal complaint with the Prosecutor General, Istanbul Bar Association President Yasin Shamli held a press conference outside the Istanbul Courthouse and accused Israel of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip despite signing a ceasefire agreement.
Shamli said Israel’s actions are not limited to the Gaza Strip, stressing that the “Israeli terrorist structure” poses a threat to all humanity. He noted that in the past two years alone, Israel has carried out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq, Malta and Egypt.
Recalling the killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab, who was shot 335 times inside his car, Shamli said: “This act shows the world that Israel is openly committing genocide. Israel is killing children out of fear. There is no innocent person that Israel will refrain from attacking. Israel is a threat to all humanity.”
The lawyer added that the tribunal had previously filed complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Human Rights Office, and the ICC had since issued arrest warrants for two Israeli officials on charges of genocide.
“Today, we filed new charges regarding the murder of five-year-old Hind Rajab, the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, and crimes committed against Global Sumud Fleet activists,” Shamli said.
Mr. Shamli stressed that Israel continues to commit crimes despite the judgments of the United Nations, the ICC and the International Court of Justice, and stressed that under Turkish law, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes fall within the jurisdiction of Turkish courts and there is no statute of limitations.
Shamli concluded that the perpetrators of the genocide will one day be held accountable before the law, adding that the International Bar Association and the Istanbul Second Tribunal will continue to be “the voice of humanity’s conscience and the defender of justice.”
MNA/