Turkey issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu, who calls Erdogan an 'antisemitic dictator'

Turkiye has formally requested an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that he orchestrated "genocide" during Israel's interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. This accusation comes in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly labeled Netanyahu as a "genocide" perpetrator.

The recent interception of a flotilla carrying around 430 activists in May has heightened tensions, prompting France, Italy, and Australia to initiate judicial proceedings against Israel. Turkey's Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on X that his ministry had sought Interpol red notice alerts for Netanyahu and another Israeli, Afek Moskovitch.

The ministry declared that these requests were made in connection with the ongoing judicial proceedings related to the attack on the flotilla and the aforementioned warrant issued on July 14, 2026, for Netanyahu and Moskovitch on charges including "genocide," "crimes against humanity," and "aggravated deprivation of liberty." The indictment also accuses Netanyahu and Moskovitch of "intentional assault and battery," "torture," "destruction of property," "aggravated looting," and "hijacking of transport vehicles."

Netanyahu and Moskovitch face prosecution for these alleged offenses. The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising approximately 50 vessels, departed from Turkey in May on a mission to Gaza, but was intercepted by the Israeli military and subsequently detained in a Mediterranean prison before being expelled. In a separate incident, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked controversy by releasing a video where he taunted some of the flotilla activists who were subdued and had their hands bound behind their backs.