Turkey has formally requested an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of genocide in connection with the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on Friday that his ministry has petitioned the interior ministry to issue Interpol red notices for both Netanyahu and a second Israeli national, identified as Afek Moskovitch.
This legal action follows arrest warrants issued on July 14, 2026, which allege that the two individuals are responsible for a range of serious offenses, including crimes against humanity, genocide, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault and battery, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting, and the hijacking of transport vehicles. The charges stem from a military operation in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which consisted of approximately 50 vessels and departed Turkey in May.
During the incident, the Israeli military detained the activists—a group numbering around 430 people—before transporting them to an Israeli prison and eventually expelling them. The operation drew significant international condemnation, with judicial proceedings regarding the event also being initiated in France, Italy, and Australia. Tensions were further exacerbated when Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, released a video showing himself taunting detained activists who were restrained on their knees with their hands bound.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has maintained a firm stance against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, frequently labeling the actions of the Israeli leadership as genocide. The move to seek international warrants marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic and legal friction between Ankara and Jerusalem regarding the ongoing conflict and the treatment of humanitarian aid efforts. The report also notes that about 50 vessels were in the Global Sumud Flotilla that left Turkey in May heading for the besieged Palestinian territory.
Source: Gulf Today
