Turkey prosecutor to probe whether IDF Gaza op was 'genocide'

A Turkish prosecutor's office says it has launched a probe into whether Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip counts as genocide, torture and crimes against humanity.

The Ankara chief prosecutor's office said Friday that the investigation was opened after an Islamic human rights organization filed an official complaint against Israeli leaders, including the president, prime minister and foreign minister.

The prosecutor's office said the rights organization has also asked for the Israeli officials be detained if they step foot in Turkey.

Turkish prosecutors are required to open investigation any time an official complaint is filed. Turkish laws allow trials against people accused of genocide and other crimes against humanity committed in other countries.

Israeli and Turkish officials have been engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions aimed at easing tensions between the two countries in the wake of Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip.

Shalom Turjeman, an adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was said to be holding talks with an aide of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an attempt to improve relations between Jerusalem and Ankara.

Ties between Israel and Turkey reached a new low on Friday when Erdogan stalked off the stage at the World Economic Forum at Davos, after sparring with President Shimon Peres over Operation Cast Lead.