ISTANBUL, Turkey – An Istanbul prosecutor's office issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other senior officials on Friday, November 7, 2025, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The move marks a significant escalation in diplomatic hostilities between the two regional powers, drawing a sharp rebuke from Israel and highlighting the growing legal challenges Israel faces over its military conduct.

The warrants, announced in a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, target key figures in Israel's political and military establishment. Among those named are Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. The prosecutor's statement accused the officials of crimes “perpetrated systematically” and specifically referenced the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, swiftly condemned the action, dismissing it as a politically motivated manoeuvre. “Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan,” Sa'ar stated on the social media platform X.

Legal and Diplomatic Fallout

This unilateral legal action by Turkey follows its decision in 2024 to formally join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' top court. While the Turkish warrants are unlikely to be enforced by international policing bodies like Interpol, they serve as a powerful symbolic condemnation and further strain the already fraught relationship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The prosecutor’s case highlighted the destruction of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital. The facility, Gaza's only dedicated cancer hospital, was forced to shut down in late 2023 due to fuel shortages and damage from nearby airstrikes. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) later confirmed it demolished the building in March 2025, alleging it was being used by Hamas operatives and had not been functioning as a hospital for over a year, a claim Turkey disputes.

Implications for Kenya

For Kenya, this development complicates an already delicate diplomatic balancing act. Nairobi maintains robust and long-standing diplomatic, security, and economic ties with Israel. Israel is a key partner in critical sectors such as agriculture, technology, and counter-terrorism. At the same time, Kenya's relationship with Turkey has been expanding, with a focus on boosting trade, defence, and security cooperation. Just days before the warrants were issued, on November 4, 2025, officials from both countries met in Nairobi to reaffirm their commitment to this growing partnership.

Kenya's official policy supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a position recently enshrined in law, according to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in July 2025. However, its voting record at the UN has at times appeared inconsistent, leading to criticism that it is attempting to remain neutral or is leaning pro-Israel. Kenya did not endorse South Africa's ICJ case, a move that aligns with its cautious approach. The African Union, in contrast, has taken a clearer stance, condemning Israel's offensive and backing the ICJ case.

Global Context and Ceasefire Status

The warrants were issued amidst a fragile ceasefire in Gaza that began on October 10, 2025, as part of a regional peace plan led by United States President Donald Trump. The plan calls for the deployment of an international stabilization force, transitional governance by Palestinian technocrats, and large-scale reconstruction efforts. The United States is currently seeking UN Security Council authorization for this force. However, the ceasefire remains tenuous, with significant challenges, including the disarmament of Hamas, yet to be resolved.

The legal action from Istanbul, while largely symbolic, injects further volatility into a tense regional landscape. It forces neutral countries like Kenya to navigate carefully between influential partners with deeply conflicting positions, underscoring the widening international repercussions of the Gaza conflict.