Turkey Asks Interpol for Netanyahu Arrest Warnings

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a stinging rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who labeled him an "antisemitic dictator," after Turkey announced on August 21, 2026, that it would seek international arrest notices for the Israeli leader and another official. The move, announced by Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, is tied to a criminal case concerning the 2025 interception of a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla.

Gurlek stated that his ministry formally asked Turkey's Interior Ministry to pursue Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu and an Israeli citizen named Afek Moskovitch. This action follows arrest warrants issued by an Istanbul court on July 14, 2026, as part of a criminal case against 35 individuals linked to the incident. The charges include genocide, crimes against humanity, unlawful deprivation of liberty, torture, and other offenses.

The legal proceedings stem from the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in May 2025. The civilian initiative involved approximately 50 vessels and activists from over 40 countries attempting to deliver aid to Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade. Israeli forces stopped the flotilla in...