Turkey has asked Interpol to issue a “red notice” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as part of the ongoing judicial process over the attack on activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the development on Friday, saying the case is under way before Istanbul’s 11th High Criminal Court and involves 35 defendants in total, including Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, a fellow defendant in the case.

In a statement posted on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Gurlek said arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Moskovitch were issued on 14 July 2026 on a charge of “genocide”.

Following the warrants, Turkey’s Justice Ministry asked the Interior Ministry to begin the procedures needed to secure Interpol red notices against the two men.

According to Gurlek, the relevant documents have also been forwarded to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry.

The charges over the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla

The case, the Turkish Justice Minister said, concerns “an armed intervention against civilians delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters, and the detention of activists.”

Netanyahu and Moskovitch face a series of serious charges. These include crimes against humanity, genocide, unlawful deprivation of liberty, intentional infliction of bodily harm, torture, damage to property, aggravated robbery, and hijacking or seizure of a means of transport.

Ankara links these charges to what is alleged to have taken place during the operation against the Global Sumud Flotilla while it was in international waters, carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.

Gurlek stressed that Turkish authorities intend to continue the process using every means available under both national and international law.

“We will not allow the crimes committed in Gaza to be covered up, nor those responsible to hide behind a shield of impunity,” the Turkish Justice Minister said.

“We will resolutely use all the means at our disposal under national and international law,” he added.

According to Gurlek, the move to seek a red notice forms part of the ongoing criminal proceedings in Istanbul, in which 33 other defendants are named alongside Netanyahu and Moskovitch.