Israeli Defense Minister Slams Erdogan Over Arrest Warrants for Israeli Officials

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a sharp rebuke of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following an arrest warrant issued by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office for 37 senior Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—on charges of genocide in Gaza.

In a message shared on social media in both Turkish and Hebrew, Gallant lashed out at Erdogan, saying: “Erdogan, take your arrest warrants and get lost. If anyone deserves to stand trial, it’s you for the massacre of Kurds. Israel is strong and fears no one.” His remarks reflect the Israeli government’s deep dissatisfaction with Turkey’s legal efforts to hold Israeli officials accountable for military actions in the Palestinian territories.

Gallant further asserted that Turkey would have no role in Gaza’s future, stating that Ankara would only be able to observe the region “through binoculars.” This statement appears to be a response to speculation that Turkey might participate in an international peacekeeping force in Gaza.