Turkiye has requested Interpol red notices for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another Israeli national over alleged genocide and other crimes linked to Israel’s interception of a flotilla carrying activists bound for Gaza.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the Justice Ministry had asked the Interior Ministry to seek international arrest alerts for Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch. The request followed arrest warrants issued on July 14, 2026, in connection with the flotilla incident in international waters.
According to the Turkish Justice Ministry, the two are accused of crimes including genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault, destruction of property, looting and hijacking.
Turkiye has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly accusing Netanyahu of genocide.
Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which carried around 430 activists, sparked international criticism. Several countries, including France, Italy and Australia, have also initiated legal proceedings related to the incident.
Netanyahu rejected the Turkish action, calling Erdogan an “antisemitic dictator” and accusing him of supporting Hamas. His office said Israel would continue to act against what it described as Turkish efforts to destabilise the region.
The flotilla, comprising around 50 vessels, departed from Turkiye in May for Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted the activists in the Mediterranean, detained them and later expelled them.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also faced international criticism after releasing a video showing detained flotilla activists with their hands tied behind their backs.
