Netanyahu brands Erdogan ‘antisemitic dictator’ after Türkiye’s Interpol plea

Ankara wants the Israeli prime minister internationally sought on genocide and crimes against humanity charges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has lashed out at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Ankara announced that it’s seeking an Interpol Red Notice for the controversial leader on genocide charges.

The war of words comes amid broader tensions between the two US allies after Türkiye was angered by recent IDF airstrikes on an airbase in Syria.

An Interpol Red Notice is a request to police worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition.

In a statement on X on Friday, Netanyahu’s office labeled Erdogan “an antisemitic dictator, who has massacred Kurds, harbors Hamas terrorists, occupies half of Cyprus, and jails record numbers of journalists and politicians who oppose him.” The Turkish leader “now seeks to extend his aggression against Israel into Syria.

Israel will not tolerate it,” it stressed.

Read more Is Israel trying to start a proxy war in Syria? “Erdogan’s pathetic attempt to intimidate the leaders and soldiers of Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, will go nowhere,” the statement read.

Earlier on Friday, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on X that Netanyahu was among 35 defendants wanted over “an attack” on the activist-operated Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

The charges include genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, deprivation of liberty, hijacking a transport vehicle, and property damage.

“We categorically reject the notion that the Netanyahu government, which is pursuing a policy of genocide in Gaza, is untouchable and cannot be held accountable,” Gurlek said.

The Israeli Navy has boarded several convoys in international waters sailing for Gaza, most recently in May, when more than 400 activists were detained aboard around 50 boats.

The activists were deported to Greece and alleged mistreatment while in Israeli custody.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at the time that all participants in “the provocative flotilla” were unharmed.

Read more Israel warns Türkiye over Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly compared Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler over the war in Gaza and accused him of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Netanyahu, in turn, has labeled Erdogan an “anti-Semitic dictator” and accused him of committing genocide against Kurds.