Turkish prosecutors open probe into Israeli officials over Gaza operation

The investigation was opened under the Article 13 of the Turkish Penal Code. According to the article, Turkish courts can trial those who are charged with committing genocide and torture, even if the crime was perpetrated in another country.

 

The decision came after a religious non-governmental organization (NGO) filed a criminal complaint against Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the army chief and the head of the military intelligence.Â

 

The Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) asked that the named Israeli officials be detained upon entering Turkey in the complaint filed, Hurriyet said in its report.

 

This will be the first investigation of its kind opened in Turkey into crimes genocide, crimes against humanity and torture committed anywhere in the world.

 

Israel launched a 22-day air and ground offensive in Gaza late in December to crackdown the Hamas militant group. However its operations left more than 1,300 people killed and 5,000 others injured. The international community slammed the operation, but Turkey was among those countries that voiced the harshest criticism.

 

Last week, Spain's High Court announced it would launch a war crimes investigation into an Israeli ex-defense minister and six other top security officials for their role in a 2002 attack that killed a Hamas commander and 14 civilians in Gaza.