Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing a potential International Criminal Court (ICC) case against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This move is seen as a way to gain leverage in their escalating dispute. According to sources cited by i24NEWS, Netanyahu has instructed an Israeli interministerial team and the head of Israel's International Law Department to prepare a dossier focused primarily on alleged attacks against Kurdish minorities and claims that Erdogan's government funds Hamas.
The development comes after Türkiye announced last month that it had asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for Netanyahu. A Turkish court had issued a warrant for his arrest on charges including genocide over Israel's interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla earlier this year. Netanyahu responded by lashing out at Erdogan, calling him "an antisemitic dictator" and accusing him of massacring Kurds and harboring Hamas members.
Netanyahu repeated his allegations in his UN General Assembly speech last week, describing Türkiye as "the latest country to become a super spreader of antisemitic lies." Türkiye's communications director, Burhanettin Duran, dismissed the remarks as "baseless accusations." The ICC, established under the Rome Statute in 2002, prosecutes genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Israel is more likely to pursue the case through a third party, although there is also a possibility that it could file the case directly. However, Israel hopes to avoid taking either step and "aims to use the existence of the case as leverage against Erdogan, effectively using it as a deterrent," according to sources. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of using "starvation as a method of warfare," intentionally directing attacks against civilians in Gaza, and committing crimes against humanity.
Neither Israel nor Türkiye is a party to the Rome Statute, while the United States, Israel's closest ally, is also not a party. Washington sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, accusing the court of exceeding its mandate. The ICC said it "strongly rejects" the designations, calling them "a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution."
The ICC has no means of enforcing the warrant on its own and relies on countries to carry out arrests. A July Economist/YouGov poll found that 49% of Americans thought the US should arrest Netanyahu if he entered the country. Netanyahu's actions are being closely watched, given his strained relationships with various countries.
The situation remains complex, with tensions between Israel and Türkiye showing no signs of easing. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, as the ICC's involvement could have far-reaching implications.
Key points
- Netanyahu faces an active ICC arrest warrant himself.
- Türkiye had asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for Netanyahu.
- Israel aims to use the ICC case as leverage against Erdogan.
