BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. Türkiye said on Friday it would seek an Interpol red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a domestic criminal case linked to Israel’s interception of activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said arrest warrants had been issued for Netanyahu and another suspect as part of an investigation involving 35 people over the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters.
According to Gurlek, the charges in the case include genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. He said the Justice Ministry had asked Türkiye’s Interior Ministry to seek Interpol red notices so that those named in the warrants could be located internationally.
An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending possible extradition. Interpol reviews requests from member countries before deciding whether to publish such a notice.
The case relates to the Global Sumud Flotilla, which attempted to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza. In May, Israeli forces opened fire on at least two vessels from the flotilla during a renewed attempt to reach the enclave, according to Reuters. Previous missions had also been intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Türkiye, a NATO member and a strong critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, has previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu and repeatedly called for international legal measures against Israeli officials. Israel rejects Ankara’s allegations of human rights and international law violations.
Gurlek said Türkiye would use available legal mechanisms to seek accountability for what Ankara describes as Israeli crimes in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office strongly rejected the Turkish move, accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of attempting to intimidate Israeli leaders and soldiers.
The latest dispute comes amid broader tensions between Türkiye and Israel, including disagreements over Syria. Ankara has criticised recent Israeli strikes in Syria, while Israel has expressed concern about growing Turkish influence in the country.
