Israel Slams Turkey’s Bid for Interpol Arrest Warrant Against Netanyahu

Israel has publicly condemned Turkey after Ankara formally asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The request, confirmed by Turkish officials, targets Netanyahu over alleged war crimes linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. A Red Notice is an international alert used by Interpol to help locate and detain a person wanted by a member country. It is not an arrest warrant, but it can restrict travel for the named individual. Israel’s foreign ministry called the move “absurd” and accused Turkey of abusing international institutions for political purposes. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and has called Netanyahu a “war criminal” in past statements. Ankara says its legal case is based on evidence gathered from the ongoing conflict. Interpol has not yet commented on whether it will process Turkey’s request. The organization’s rules require it to remain neutral and avoid politically motivated cases. This is the latest escalation in a long-running diplomatic rift between Israel and Turkey, which has grown sharper since the Gaza war began.