Israel prepares legal case against Turkish President Erdogan at the ICC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a ministerial team and the head of the Department of International Law to prepare a legal case against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision was prompted by Erdogan's recent announcement that he had requested an Interpol arrest warrant for the Israeli leader. According to reports from the network i24NEWS, the Israeli legal action will focus on allegations regarding the treatment of Kurdish minorities in Turkey and claims that the Turkish government has provided financial support to Hamas.

While Israel and Turkey do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC as neither has signed the Rome Statute, analysts suggest that the legal file is intended as a significant tool for political and diplomatic pressure. It is reported that Israel may attempt to initiate proceedings through a third country rather than approaching the ICC directly. Sources close to the matter indicate that the move is designed to deter Ankara from pursuing the arrest of Netanyahu. As of late September 2026, the Israeli Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of Justice have not provided official commentary on the reports.