Erdoğan hails ‘courageous’ ICC warrants for Israeli leaders

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday praised the “courageous decision” of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, Agence France-Presse reported.

“We support the arrest warrant. We consider it important that this courageous decision be carried out by all member countries of the accord to renew the trust of humanity in the international system,” Erdoğan said in a speech in İstanbul.

The ICC issued the warrants for the Israeli leaders and for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif on Thursday on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

“It is imperative that western countries — who for years have given the world lessons on law, justice and human rights — keep their promises at this stage,” added Erdogan, whose country is not a state party to the ICC accord.

Erdoğan has been a fierce critic of Israel since the start of its military offensive on Gaza in October 2023.

He has vowed several times to make sure that Israel’s prime minister, who has angrily condemned the ICC warrants, is “brought to account” over the Israeli military campaign in the Palestinian territory.

Turkey and 52 other countries this month sent a letter to the United Nations demanding an end to arms sales and deliveries to Israel.