Turkey Seeks International Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Over Gaza Flotilla

Turkey asked Interpol on Friday to issue a red notice against Netanyahu and 35 other Israeli officials. Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the request on X, citing charges including genocide.

• 36 Israeli officials total are named in Turkey's Interpol request.
• Turkey first indicted the officials in April, seeking up to 4,596 years in prison.
• The case stems from Israel's October 2025 naval interception of the 'Sumud' Gaza flotilla.
• Over 400 flotilla participants, including Greta Thunberg, were detained and deported by Israel.

Why it matters: A red notice is not an international arrest warrant — compliance is voluntary for each member country.

• The move extends a legal campaign Turkey launched after Israel boarded the flotilla in international waters.

How 5 sources split on this story

What’s next: Turkey says it will pursue 'all possibilities of national and international law,' per Gürlek.

• Tensions also follow an IDF strike on a Turkish-linked Syrian airfield earlier this week.
• Will Interpol publish the red notice, or decline it as politically motivated under its rules?
• How will countries with close ties to both Israel and Turkey respond if the notice is issued?