An Istanbul court on Friday issued arrest warrants for 37 suspects, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza, as well as against the Global Smud Frotra vessel, which was seized in October, Anadolu News Agency reported.
The warrant was issued at the request of the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office, which said in a statement that tens of thousands of people, including women and children, have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s systematic genocide and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
Recalling that six-year-old Hind Rajab was killed by Israeli soldiers with 335 bullets on January 29, 2024, the statement said: “Since October 7, 2023, such acts have escalated every day. “The attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on October 17, 2023 claimed 500 lives, and on February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers deliberately destroyed medical equipment.” On March 21, 2025, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was bombed and the Gaza Strip was similarly blocked, leaving victims without access to humanitarian aid. ”
The statement noted that the situation had received widespread attention from the international community, and that activists from the Global Sumud flotilla had sailed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, but were attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters.