Turkey Issues International Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Over Genocide

Turkish authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of genocide. The charges relate to Israel’s attack in May on activists aboard humanitarian aid vessels, the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza.

In a post on social media platform X on Friday (21/8), Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the arrest warrant had been issued on 14 July for Netanyahu and other suspects. The charges include genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture, as part of a case against 35 people over Israel’s military interception in international waters.

“As part of the legal process regarding the attack in international waters on the humanitarian aid flotilla activists and in accordance with the arrest warrant issued on 14 July 2026 against Benjamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch on charges of ‘genocide’, the Ministry of Justice has requested the Ministry of the Interior to issue a red notice for their international arrest,” the Turkish minister said, as reported by Al-Jazeera on Saturday (22/8/2026).

Turkey will use all available legal mechanisms to ensure Israel is held accountable for its crimes in Gaza, he added.

Turkey, a NATO member, has been one of the harshest critics of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. Turkey had previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu over the attacks.

Turkey has also repeatedly called for international action against Israel over what Ankara describes as violations of human rights and international law. Israel denies the allegations.

In May, Israeli forces fired on at least two vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing towards Gaza. The flotilla was making a fresh attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to the territory after a previous mission was intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters.

The Israeli interception of the flotilla drew international condemnation. France, Italy, and Australia have also initiated legal proceedings.

Around 50 vessels were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla that departed from Turkey in May heading for the besieged Gaza Strip. The activists were detained in the Mediterranean by the Israeli military and later taken to Israeli prisons before being deported.