Merve Berker
21 August 2026•Update: 21 August 2026
Türkiye has requested Interpol to issue a red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of an ongoing prosecution over an attack on activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said Friday.
In a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Gurlek said judicial proceedings were continuing before Istanbul's 11th High Criminal Court against 35 defendants, including Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, over the incident in international waters.
He said arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Moskovitch on July 14, 2026, on charges of "genocide" prompted the Justice Ministry to ask the Interior Ministry to seek Interpol red notices for the two suspects.
The relevant documents have also been forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, Gurlek said.
He said Netanyahu and Moskovitch were being prosecuted over alleged actions involving the "armed intervention against civilians delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters and the detention of activists."
The charges include "crimes against humanity," "genocide," "aggravated deprivation of liberty," "intentional injury," "torture," "damage to property," "aggravated robbery" and "hijacking of means of transportation," he added.
"We will not allow the crimes committed in Gaza to be covered up or those responsible to be protected by a shield of impunity," Gurlek said.
"We will resolutely use all means available under national and international law," he added.
