Turkey seeks Interpol red notice for Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla case

Ankara, Turkey. Turkey said on Friday it would seek an Interpol red notice for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a domestic criminal case linked to an attack on activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the request followed arrest warrants issued in a case concerning Israel’s interception of vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters.

Turkish request

In a post on X, Gurlek said arrest warrants had been issued for Netanyahu and another suspect on charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture, as part of a case against 35 people over the Israeli interception.

“In line with the arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu … our justice ministry has requested that the interior ministry issue (Interpol) red notices for them so that they may be sought internationally,” Gurlek said.

He added that Turkey would use all available legal mechanisms to ensure Israel was held accountable for its actions in Gaza.

Flotilla incident

In May, Israeli forces opened fire on at least two vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla as it sailed towards Gaza in a renewed attempt to deliver aid to the enclave. Earlier missions had been intercepted by Israel in international waters.

Turkey, a Nato member, has been among the strongest critics of Israel’s assault on Gaza. It has previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu over the war and has repeatedly called for international action over what Ankara describes as violations of human rights and international law. Israel denies the allegations.

Israeli response

In a reaction on X, Netanyahu’s office said: “Erdogan is an antisemitic dictator who has massacred Kurds, harbors Hamas terrorists, occupies half of Cyprus, and jails record numbers of journalists and politicians who oppose him.”

“He now seeks to extend his aggression against Israel into Syria. Israel will not tolerate it. Erdogan’s pathetic attempt to intimidate the leaders and soldiers of Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, will go nowhere,” the office added.

Interpol process

A red notice is a request to police forces worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.

Interpol reviews requests submitted by member states before deciding whether to issue red notices.