Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted immediately after the announcement by Turkish authorities of the request to issue an international red notice for his arrest, as part of the procedures related to the war in Gaza and the incident with the Global Sumud Flotilla activists.
In his statement, Netanyahu harshly attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing him as “an anti-Semitic dictator.”
He accused the Turkish leader of repression against political opponents and journalists, as well as of support for Hamas.
“Erdoğan is an anti-Semitic dictator who massacred Kurds, sheltered Hamas terrorists, occupied half of Cyprus and imprisoned a record number of journalists and political opponents,” Netanyahu declared.
He also accused Ankara of trying to expand the clash with Israel in Syria, warning that his country would not back down in the face of Turkish pressure.
“Erdogan’s pathetic attempt to intimidate the leaders and soldiers of Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, will not succeed,” the Israeli prime minister added.
On the other hand, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek announced that the Ministry of Justice has asked the Ministry of Interior to proceed with a “red notice” for the international arrest of Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch.
According to Turkish authorities, the proceedings are related to accusations of “genocide” and the incident of the detention of Global Sumud Flotilla activists in international waters.
Gürlek stated that Netanyahu and Moskovitch are accused, among other things, of crimes against humanity, genocide, serious deprivation of liberty, intentional bodily harm, mistreatment, damage to property, aggravated robbery, and seizure of means of transport.