Turkiye issues arrest warrant on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
*Seeks Interpol Red Notice for him over Gaza Flotilla case
Turkish authorities have accused the defendants of various offences relating to the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters.
Turkiye issues a warrant of arrest on the capture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has begun the process of seeking an Interpol Red Notice on him over a criminal case linked to the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying activists and humanitarian aid towards Gaza.
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said on Friday August 21, 2026 that the arrest warrants had been issued for Netanyahu and another defendant in connection with the case, which includes allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture.
The warrants were issued by Istanbul’s 11th High Criminal Court on July 14 as part of a case involving 35 defendants. Turkish authorities have accused the defendants of various offences relating to the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters.
Gürlek said Turkey’s Justice Ministry had asked the Interior Ministry to seek Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu and the other defendant, with the relevant documents also sent to the Foreign Ministry.
An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law-enforcement agencies in member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal proceedings. It does not itself constitute an international arrest warrant, and Interpol must review Turkey’s request before deciding whether to issue a notice.
The case stems from Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of vessels carrying activists and humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office rejected Turkey’s move, describing it as an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to intimidate Israeli leaders.
The development represents another escalation in the longstanding diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Israel over the war in Gaza and related regional issues.
