Netanyahu Suddenly Threatens Erdogan, What Is Happening?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for the possibility of filing legal charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This step is being taken as a manoeuvre to use the legal process as a bargaining chip in the ongoing dispute between the two countries, which continues to intensify.
Citing Russia Today on Monday (28/09/2026), reports from the i24NEWS channel, quoting several sources, revealed that this manoeuvre follows an announcement from Turkey last month. Turkey had previously officially requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice for Netanyahu. This occurred after a Turkish court issued an arrest warrant over allegations of genocide related to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud fleet heading to Gaza earlier this year.
Netanyahu responded harshly to these actions by attacking the Turkish leader. He referred to Erdogan as an “antisemitic dictator” and accused him of massacring the Kurdish minority and hiding members of Hamas. He reaffirmed these allegations in his speech at the UN General Assembly last week, describing Turkey as the latest nation to become a super-spreader of antisemitic lies.
Responding to this series of verbal attacks, Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran immediately dismissed them, stating, “Those are baseless allegations.”
Netanyahu has now reportedly instructed Israel’s inter-ministerial team and the head of Israel’s International Law Department to prepare a special investigation file. The file will focus primarily on alleged Turkish attacks against the Kurdish minority, as well as claims that the Erdogan administration funds Hamas. According to media reports, Israel is likely to pursue the case through a third party, although there is a possibility they may submit it directly.
However, according to the same sources, Israel actually hopes to avoid both approaches, as the primary aim is to use the existence of the case as a bargaining tool against Erdogan and as a deterrent instrument.
For context, the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, was established under the Rome Statute, which came into force in 2002, to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In November 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally directing attacks against civilians in Gaza, and committing crimes against humanity.
Neither Israel nor Turkey are signatories to the Rome Statute. Similarly, the United States, Israel’s closest ally, has been a vocal opponent of the arrest warrant for Netanyahu. Washington even imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, accusing the court of exceeding its mandate. The ICC has strongly rejected the imposition of sanctions by the US, stating, “This is a blatant attack on the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”
The ICC essentially lacks the means to enforce its own warrants and relies entirely on member states to carry out arrests. Despite receiving support from the US government, Netanyahu’s position in the eyes of the American public remains concerning. A The Economist/YouGov poll conducted last July found that 49% of US citizens believed the US government should arrest Netanyahu if he enters the country.