Netanyahu Condemns Turkey's Bid for Interpol Red Notice over Genocide Allegations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned the Turkish government’s move to seek an Interpol red notice for his arrest on genocide charges. Netanyahu said Ankara has long displayed hypocrisy towards Israel.
In an official statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Friday (21/8/2026), Netanyahu levelled sharp criticism at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He labelled Erdogan an anti-Semitic dictator and accused him of responsibility for various acts of violence in the region.
‘Israel has long been unimpressed by Turkey’s hypocrisy. Erdogan is an anti-Semitic dictator who massacres Kurds, supports the massacres carried out by the terrorist organisation Hamas, and oppresses his own people,’ the statement read.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel would continue to take firm action against what he described as Turkey’s attempts to disrupt regional stability.
Tensions peaked just days after Syria accused Israel of launching an air strike on a military base in the north of the country, close to the Turkish border. The attack was indirectly acknowledged by Netanyahu.
Netanyahu argued that the strike on the air base, which has been out of operation since 2012, was carried out because Turkey was seeking to establish a military presence at the site. However, the accusation was firmly denied by Ankara, which stated that no troops had been deployed to the air base targeted by Israel.
The feud between the two countries has now shifted to the realm of international law. Turkey’s Justice Minister, Akin Gurlek, confirmed that his government is seeking an Interpol red notice to arrest Netanyahu and another Israeli citizen, Afek Moskovitch.
Gurlek explained that the legal process is registered under case number 2026/108 Esas at the 11th Istanbul High Criminal Court, involving 35 defendants.
‘In line with the arrest warrants issued on 14 July 2026 against Benjamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch on charges of genocide, a request has been submitted to the Ministry of Interior to issue an international red notice,’ Gurlek said via his social media post on Friday (21/8).
According to Gurlek, Netanyahu faces a series of serious charges. The charges are closely linked to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip since 2023, including the armed intervention against the Global Freedom Flotilla volunteer ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters.
Turkey’s legal move marks a new chapter in the escalating diplomatic relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, which continue to deteriorate as the Gaza conflict persists.