Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Turkey has begun the process of seeking an international arrest notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the interception of a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, escalating a legal dispute that has further strained relations between Ankara and Israel.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said judicial proceedings were continuing against 35 defendants in a case being heard by Istanbul’s 11th High Criminal Court. The defendants include Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials accused of involvement in the seizure of vessels carrying activists and humanitarian supplies for the Gaza Strip.
The court issued an interim arrest decision against Netanyahu on July 14, 2026, in a case registered under file number 2026/108. Turkish prosecutors have linked the proceedings to allegations including genocide, crimes against humanity, unlawful deprivation of liberty, mistreatment, intentional injury, looting, property damage and the seizure of vessels.
Gürlek said the Justice Ministry had asked the Interior Ministry to begin preparing a Red Notice request through Interpol. The necessary documents were then forwarded to the Foreign Ministry to complete the diplomatic and administrative procedures, he added.
The move does not automatically mean that Interpol has issued a Red Notice or that Netanyahu is subject to a universally enforceable arrest warrant. A Red Notice is a request to locate and provisionally detain an individual pending extradition or related legal action. Interpol reviews such requests under its rules, while each member state determines what legal effect the notice carries under domestic law.
The Turkish case stems from the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international civilian initiative that sought to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea and draw attention to Israel’s naval blockade. The convoy included activists, medical workers and volunteers from multiple countries, including Turkish nationals.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly said they will prevent vessels from breaching the blockade. In previous incidents, Israeli forces intercepted aid ships, redirected them to Israeli ports and detained passengers before deporting them. Turkish prosecutors allege that the latest interception took place in international waters and involved the unlawful detention and physical mistreatment of civilians aboard the vessels. The allegations remain under examination by the Istanbul court.
The proceedings have expanded since an investigation was opened into the detention of Turkish citizens aboard the flotilla. Prosecutors later named Netanyahu and other senior Israeli figures, including defense and security officials, in connection with the operation. The trial is being conducted in absentia, as the defendants are not expected to appear before the Turkish court.
The dispute reflects a wider deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations over the war in Gaza. Ankara has become one of Israel’s most outspoken critics, accusing it of violating international law and restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel, in turn, has rejected Turkish accusations and has not indicated that it recognizes the jurisdiction of the Turkish court.
The latest proceedings also revive memories of the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, when Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound aid ship in international waters, killing 10 people. The incident triggered criminal proceedings in Turkey against former Israeli military commanders. Those cases were later dropped after Ankara and Tel Aviv reached a normalization agreement in 2016 that included compensation for victims’ families and restrictions on further legal claims.
The current case, however, is unfolding in a sharply different political environment. The Gaza war, the continuing humanitarian crisis and the collapse of diplomatic trust have made a negotiated settlement more difficult. By pursuing an Interpol notice, Turkey is seeking to increase international pressure on Netanyahu and the other defendants, even though the practical impact of the request will depend on Interpol’s review and the response of individual countries.
