Turkey Seeks Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu Over Gaza Aid Flotilla

Turkey said Friday it will seek an Interpol red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a criminal investigation linked to Israel’s interception of activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The move marks another escalation in tensions between Turkey and Israel. Ankara, one of Israel’s strongest critics over the Gaza war, has previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu and repeatedly called for international action over alleged violations of human rights and international law. Israel rejects the accusations.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said arrest warrants had been issued for Netanyahu and another suspect on charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. The warrants are part of a case involving 35 people connected to the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters.

In May, Israeli forces opened fire on at least two vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla as activists made another attempt to transport humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Previous flotilla missions had also been intercepted by Israel.

Gurlek said Turkey’s Justice Ministry had formally asked the Interior Ministry to pursue Interpol red notices against Netanyahu and the other suspect, allowing authorities to seek their detention internationally.

An Interpol red notice asks law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual while extradition proceedings are considered. Interpol reviews requests from member countries before determining whether a notice should be issued.

Netanyahu’s office sharply criticized Turkey’s action, describing President Tayyip Erdogan’s effort to target Israeli leaders and soldiers as “pathetic” and saying it would fail.

The legal dispute comes amid worsening Turkey-Israel tensions over Syria. Israel recently carried out airstrikes on a Syrian air base where it claimed Turkish troops could potentially be stationed. Ankara condemned the strikes, while Syria said there were no plans for a Turkish deployment.

Turkey’s growing influence in Syria following the 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad has raised concerns in Israel. Ankara, meanwhile, has argued that Israel’s increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Turkey is partly driven by the country’s approaching parliamentary election in October.