Turkey Seeks Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu Over Gaza Flotilla Interception, Alleging Genocide

Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc's ministry announced on August 21, 2026 (reported widely August 22) that Turkey had issued an arrest warrant — dated July 14 but disclosed publicly this weekend — for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli official Afek Moskovitch over Israel's May 2026 interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters en route to Gaza. The warrant, part of a broader case naming 35 individuals, alleges genocide, crimes against humanity and torture, and Ankara is requesting Interpol issue a Red Notice. Netanyahu's office dismissed the move as 'pathetic' and called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan an 'antisemitic dictator,' vowing to 'act forcefully' against what it described as Turkish attempts to destabilize the region. France, Italy and Australia have separately opened their own judicial proceedings related to the flotilla interception, which triggered a diplomatic crisis in May after images circulated of bound, kneeling detainees.