Turkey issues 'genocide' warrant for Israel's Netanyahu

Turkey sought an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another Israeli official on Friday, accusing them of genocide over Israel's interception of a Gaza aid flotilla, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced.

Why did Turkey issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu?

Turkey's request follows arrest warrants first issued in July 2026, when Ankara accused Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture over the flotilla interception. The justice ministry has now asked the interior ministry to issue Interpol red notices for both men.

Turkey has become a vocal critic of Israel's war in Gaza since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly accused Netanyahu of genocide over the conduct of that war.

What happened to the Gaza flotilla activists?

About 50 vessels made up the Global Sumud Flotilla, which left Turkey in May carrying roughly 430 activists bound for the besieged Palestinian territory. Israeli forces detained the activists in the Mediterranean and held them in an Israeli prison before expelling them.

The interception drew international outcry, and France, Italy and Australia have since launched their own judicial proceedings. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir added to the controversy by releasing a video of himself taunting bound and kneeling flotilla activists.

What charges are Netanyahu and Moskovitch facing?

Turkey's justice ministry said Netanyahu and Moskovitch are being prosecuted for crimes against humanity, genocide, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault and battery, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting and hijacking of transport vehicles. The warrants request their international arrest through Interpol red notices.