Turkey seeks Interpol red notice for Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla detention
Ankara has requested international arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and a soldier, citing charges of genocide and torture linked to the interception of humanitarian aid vessels in the Mediterranean.
Turkey has formally requested Interpol red notices for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and soldier Afek Moskovitch, a move that escalates the legal dispute surrounding the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The request was confirmed by Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who stated that the warrants are part of a domestic criminal case involving 35 individuals.
According to the Turkish Justice Ministry, the warrants were issued on charges including genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture. The case relates specifically to the Israeli military’s interception of the flotilla in international waters. The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising approximately 50 vessels, departed from Turkey in May with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israeli forces opened fire on at least two of the vessels before detaining the activists in the Mediterranean. The detainees were subsequently taken to an Israeli prison and later expelled. Activists have alleged instances of physical and sexual violence during their detention, while Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released footage showing detained activists on their knees with their hands tied.
The second individual named in the warrants, Afek Moskovitch, is an Israeli soldier accused of posting footage on Instagram showing tanks and a bulldozer destroying buildings at the Islamic University of Gaza, including a hospital and medical faculty. Minister Gurlek stated that the ministry has requested the Interior Ministry to issue the red notices so that the individuals may be sought internationally.
Netanyahu’s office dismissed the move as a political tactic, describing it as a "pathetic attempt to intimidate" Israel. The office also accused President Tayyip Erdogan of being an "anti-Semitic dictator." This development follows recent tensions between the two nations over Israeli air strikes in Syria, which Ankara condemned as an escalation.
France, Italy, and Australia have also launched judicial proceedings regarding the detention of the activists. While Interpol reviews requests from member states before issuing red notices, the outcome of the Turkish domestic case remains pending.
