LSRINAGAR: Turkey has sought an Interpol Red Notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid towards Gaza, Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said.
Gürlek said arrest warrants had been issued on July 14 against Netanyahu and Israeli national Afek Moskovitch in connection with the case, and that Turkey’s Justice Ministry had asked the Interior Ministry to seek Red Notices for both. The relevant documents were also sent to the Foreign Ministry.
The proceedings are being conducted before Istanbul’s 11th High Criminal Court as part of a case involving 35 defendants. Turkish authorities allege that the suspects were involved in the armed interception of civilians attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza in international waters and the subsequent detention of activists.
According to Gürlek, the charges include genocide, crimes against humanity, aggravated deprivation of liberty, intentional injury, torture, damage to property, aggravated robbery and hijacking of means of transport. The allegations are part of Turkey’s domestic judicial proceedings and have not been established by a final court judgment.
The Global Sumud Flotilla sailed towards Gaza in May with hundreds of activists seeking to deliver humanitarian aid. Israeli forces intercepted the vessels in international waters and detained the activists before their subsequent deportation, according to report by Reuters.
Gürlek said Turkey would use available national and international legal mechanisms to pursue those it holds responsible for alleged crimes against the flotilla activists.
An Interpol Red Notice is a request to police forces worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal proceedings; it is not itself an international arrest warrant. Interpol reviews such requests before deciding whether to issue a notice.
Israel has rejected Turkey’s accusations. Netanyahu’s office described Ankara’s move as an attempt to intimidate Israeli leaders and said Israel would continue to oppose what it called Turkish efforts to destabilise the region.
