The warrants were issued as part of an investigation into alleged war crimes and other crimes committed during the Israeli war campaign in the Gaza Strip. Among the suspects are high-ranking Israeli and military politicians, accused of directing or facilitating attacks that left more than 68,000 dead. Palestinians, Turkish media reported.

Turkish lawyers have previously filed complaints against the Israeli authorities with the International Criminal Court and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The president of the Bar Association in Istanbul, Yasin Samli, was quoted by the Daily Sabah as saying that under Turkish law, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the Turkish courts and do not fall under the statute of limitations.