Türkiye has requested that INTERPOL issue Red Notices for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli military officer Afek Moskovitch in connection with criminal proceedings resulting from the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid convoy intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. The request was announced by Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on 21 August 2026.
According to Turkish media reports, the request follows arrest warrants issued on 14 July 2026 by the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court in proceedings involving 35 Israeli defendants, including Netanyahu and Moskovitch. The Turkish Justice Ministry subsequently asked the Interior Ministry to initiate the INTERPOL process and forwarded the relevant documentation to the Foreign Ministry.
In a statement posted on X, Gürlek said the case concerns the alleged armed intervention against participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla and their subsequent detention. He stated that the charges include genocide, crimes against humanity, aggravated unlawful deprivation of liberty, intentional injury, torture and ill-treatment, damage to property, aggravated robbery, and the hijacking or seizure of means of transport.
Turkish authorities have described the proceedings as part of ongoing efforts to pursue accountability through both domestic and international legal mechanisms. Israel has consistently rejected allegations of genocide and other international crimes arising from its military operations and enforcement actions.
