Istanbul: The Palestinian group Hamas has expressed approval of a Turkish court's recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other officials. These warrants arise from charges of genocide and crimes against humanity linked to Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has identified several high-ranking Israeli figures in these warrants. They include Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Army Chief Eyal Zamir, and Israeli Naval Forces Commander David Saar Salama.

Hamas lauded the judicial move, stating it mirrors the Turkish people's and leadership's dedication to justice and humanity. The group emphasized the strong ties between the Turkish and Palestinian people, particularly against the backdrop of what they describe as a genocidal war inflicted by Israeli leaders. The statement urged global governments and judicial entities to take similar actions to pursue and hold accountable those responsible for crimes against Palestinians.

In an earlier development in November 2024, the International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of nearly 69,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, and injured over 170,000, prior to a ceasefire that commenced on October 10, 2023.