Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek confirmed Friday that his country asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader faces this measure – a formal request for international detention – due to active legal proceedings concerning Israel's thwarting of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had claimed it was transporting relief to Gaza but was in fact a propaganda campaign that did not address any of Gaza's humanitarian concerns. This comes on the heels of new tension with Ankara in the past several days involving the alleged Israeli bombing of a airbase in Syria's Abu al-Duhur, which had been set to be reserviced by Turkish troops. Israel has not taken responsibility for it but subtly noted that it had "warned" Turkey about its red lines.
Istanbul's 11th High Criminal Court is currently handling the trial related to the offshore incident, Gurlek posted on the domestic social network NSosyal. Netanyahu is among the 35 individuals facing charges in Turkey, which include a person the Turkish media reported as Afek Moskovitch, without providing details.
Warrants demanding the arrest of both men were authorized on July 14, 2026. Because those orders included "genocide" accusations, the Justice Ministry instructed the Interior Ministry to secure the international police alerts.
Officials have also transmitted the necessary dossiers to the Foreign Ministry, according to Gurlek.
He emphasized that the prosecution targets Netanyahu and Moskovitch for their alleged involvement in the "armed intervention against civilians delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters and the detention of activists."
The formal accusations list "crimes against humanity," alongside "genocide," and "aggravated deprivation of liberty," the minister outlined. Other listed offenses include "intentional injury," and "torture," as well as "damage to property," paired with "aggravated robbery" and the "hijacking of means of transportation," he stated.
"We will not allow the crimes committed in Gaza to be covered up or those responsible to be protected by a shield of impunity," the justice minister said.
"We will resolutely use all means available under national and international law," Gurlek concluded.
