Türkiye seeks Interpol arrest notice for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo: Getty Images)
A Turkish court has ordered the issuance of an international arrest notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the interception of the Freedom Flotilla, Halk TV reports.
What Netanyahu is accused of
The Istanbul Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other individuals involved in the case. The charges include:
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Crimes against humanity;
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Genocide;
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Unlawful deprivation of liberty;
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Cruel treatment;
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Intentional infliction of bodily harm;
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Robbery and vehicle hijacking.
What led to the arrest warrant
Earlier, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against Netanyahu and 34 senior Israeli officials in the same case, seeking life imprisonment for the defendants. It was based on this indictment that the court initiated criminal proceedings.
Relations between Israel and the United States have also been strained recently. Just a day earlier, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceled a meeting with Netanyahu over Washington's plans to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, a move opposed by Israel.
Earlier, Netanyahu, together with senior officials, made his first visit to Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, stating that the military would not leave the region for now. On June 10, he also suggested that Israel might have to fight Iran on its own, without support from the United States.
