Netanyahu warrant row: Israel, Turkey exchange accusations

Turkey and Israel exchanged accusations Friday after Ankara said it had sought Interpol red notice alerts for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another Israeli, Afek Moskovitch, over Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on X that the justice ministry had asked the interior ministry to seek the alerts as part of judicial proceedings over what he called an attack in international waters on flotilla activists. The earlier arrest warrants were issued on July 14, 2026, against Netanyahu and Moskovitch.

Turkey's justice ministry said Netanyahu and Moskovitch were being prosecuted for crimes including crimes against humanity, genocide, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional assault and battery, torture, destruction of property, aggravated looting and hijacking of transport vehicles.

Netanyahu's office said Israel was "unimpressed by Turkey's hypocrisy". It called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an "antisemitic dictator" and accused him of massacring Kurds, supporting Hamas and oppressing his own people.

The Israeli statement also said Israel would "continue to act forcefully against Turkey's attempts to destabilise the region".

Turkey's presidency called the Israeli remarks "outrageous ravings" and accused Netanyahu's government of trying to evade accountability. Referring to upcoming polls, it said Netanyahu and his associates were using "cheap politics" for electoral advantage.

Turkey's IHA news agency reported, citing the indictment, that Moskovitch is an Israeli soldier who is also accused over actions in Gaza. IHA said Moskovitch had posted Instagram footage showing tanks and a bulldozer destroying buildings at the Islamic University of Gaza, including a hospital and medical faculty.

About 50 vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla left Turkey in May for Gaza with about 430 activists. The activists were detained in the Mediterranean by the Israeli military, taken to an Israeli prison and later expelled.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also released a video showing himself taunting flotilla activists who were on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs.

Turkey has been a strong critic of Israel's war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. Erdogan has repeatedly accused Netanyahu of "genocide". France, Italy and Australia have also launched judicial proceedings linked to the flotilla interception.