'Vital step': Türkiye supports ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders

The Turkish foreign minister hailed the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a former defence minister, calling it a good step towards “the realisation of justice.”

“The arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Netanyahu and (Yoav) Gallant are promising in terms of the realisation of justice,” Hakan Fidan said on X on Thursday.

The decision is a “vital step” in bringing Israeli officials who have committed genocide of the Palestinians to justice, said Fidan.

Fidan added that Türkiye will continue to work towards the implementation of international law in all its institutions and rules to punish genocide.

"This is not only a duty towards the Palestinians who have been killed, but also towards all oppressed nations and future generations,” he said.

On Thursday, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

'Protective shield' will end

Earlier, Türkiye’s parliament speaker welcomed the ICC issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling it a sign that “the protective shield” on top Israeli officials will finally end.

"The arrest warrant is hopeful for the future of humanity as it is a sign that the protective shield over Netanyahu and his gang will be lifted,” Numan Kurtulmus said on X on Thursday.

The Hague court’s decision is a “step of historical importance,” he said.

"After the International Court of Justice's ruling, Israel, which was believed to be untouchable because of this decision, has been touched. This decision is the result of the support given to the innocent and oppressed Palestinian people by the 'humanity front’,” said Kurtulmus.

Calling on the global community to suspend Israel's UN membership due to its genocidal apartheid practices, Kurtulmus said that conscience and justice will win, while oppression and barbarity will lose.

On Thursday, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The warrants come as Israel’s genocidal offensive in Gaza recently entered its second year, having already killed some 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured over 103,000 others.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing and deliberate blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, pushing the population to the brink of starvation.