Turkiye issues 'genocide' warrant for Israel's Netanyahu

ANKARA: Turkey has requested an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of "genocide" in connection with Israel's interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, according to the country's Justice Minister Akin Gurlek. The minister announced the move on Friday, following Turkey's growing criticism of Israel's war in Gaza.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly labeled Netanyahu as responsible for "genocide." The interception of the flotilla, which carried around 430 activists in May, elicited widespread international condemnation. France, Italy, and Australia have also initiated legal actions. Gurlek revealed that his ministry had sought Interpol to issue red notice alerts against Netanyahu and another Israeli, Afek Moskovitch.

The warrant stems from judicial proceedings initiated on July 14, 2026, concerning the attack on the flotilla activists in international waters. The ministry of justice has accused Netanyahu and Moskovitch of "genocide, crimes against humanity, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault and battery, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting, and hijacking of transport vehicles."

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising approximately 50 vessels, departed from Turkey in May to deliver aid to the besieged Palestinian territory. The activists were apprehended in the Mediterranean by the Israeli military and subsequently transferred to an Israeli prison before being expelled. Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked controversy by releasing a video where he mocked some of the flotilla activists who were on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs.