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Turkey has requested an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegations of genocide linked to Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Turkey’s justice minister has announced.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on Friday that his ministry had asked the interior ministry to issue Interpol Red Notice alerts for Netanyahu and another Israeli national, Afek Moskovitch, in connection with legal proceedings over the incident.
“As part of the judicial proceedings concerning the attack in international waters on the Flotilla activists (…) and in accordance with the arrest warrants issued on July 14, 2026, against Benjamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch for ‘genocide,’ the ministry of justice has requested that the ministry of the interior issue red notices for their international arrest,” Gurlek said in a statement shared on X.
Turkey’s justice ministry said the two men are being prosecuted over allegations including crimes against humanity, genocide, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting and hijacking of transport vehicles.
The move follows Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of about 50 vessels that departed from Turkey in May carrying humanitarian aid and activists heading towards Gaza. Israeli forces stopped the vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, detained the activists and later transferred them to an Israeli prison before their expulsion.
The interception drew international criticism, with countries including France, Italy and Australia also beginning legal proceedings related to the incident.
Turkey has emerged as one of Israel’s strongest critics over the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly accused Netanyahu’s government of committing genocide against Palestinians, allegations Israel has rejected.
The controversy intensified after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir released a video showing him confronting detained flotilla activists while they were on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs. The footage attracted further condemnation from critics who accused Israeli authorities of mistreating the detainees.
Israel has consistently defended its military operations in Gaza, saying its actions are focused on dismantling Hamas and protecting Israeli security.
