Turkey issues ‘genocide’ warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla

Turkey has requested an international arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of "genocide" related to Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May. Turkey's Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the move on social media, stating that the ministry had requested the interior ministry issue red notices for Netanyahu and another Israeli, Afek Moskovitch, for their roles in the incident.

The Justice Minister cited charges including "genocide, crimes against humanity, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting, and hijacking of transport vehicles." Moskovitch, identified as an Israeli soldier, is alleged to have posted footage on social media showing tanks and a bulldozer destroying buildings, including a hospital and medical faculty, at the Islamic University of Gaza during the flotilla incident.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising about 50 vessels, set sail from Turkey in May with the aim of reaching the besieged Palestinian territory. The activists were apprehended in the Mediterranean by the Israeli military, subsequently held in an Israeli prison before being expelled. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also faced criticism for releasing a video that depicted him taunting flotilla activists who were subdued with their hands tied behind their backs.