From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 21, 2026
Turkey issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu over interception of Gaza activist flotilla
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Turkey has issued an international arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of an investigation into Israel’s interception of an activist flotilla for Gaza, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced Friday on X.
Turkey has already issued warrants against Netanyahu and other top officials for “genocide” over Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel firmly denies accusations of genocide.
Friday’s announcement is the latest sign of the collapse of Israeli-Turkish relations since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and subsequent Gaza war. Turkey has hosted Hamas leaders, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised the terror group and castigated Israel, ending trade and direct flights between the countries.
This is not the first spat between the countries over a pro-Palestinian flotilla to Gaza. In 2010, the countries entered a diplomatic spat after 10 Turkish activists were killed in a violent confrontation with Israeli naval commandos raiding a flotilla bound for the enclave.
The Times of Israel Community.