Turkey seeking nearly 5,000 years in prison for Netanyahu over October Gaza flotilla
The 35-member list of those charged also includes Defense Minister Katz and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, with Netanyahu, Katz, and Ben-Gvir responding to the indictment on Saturday.
Turkey indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, as well as 35 other Israeli officials, for the naval interception of the October 2025 “Sumud” Gaza flotilla, seeking up to 4,596 years in prison as punishment, Turkish media reported.
Istanbul’s chief prosecutor accused those indicted of having been involved in a military operation against civilians in international waters, seeking a minimum sentence of 1,102 years.
The list of those charged also includes Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek referred to the indictment as a reflection of the country’s commitment to international law.
Turkey previously issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2025, as well as for other senior Israeli officials.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila sit in a vessel making their way to Israel, after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in this handout image released on October 2, 2025. (credit: ISRAEL FOREIGN MINSTRY/ Handout via REUTERS)
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail in late August, comprising dozens of vessels and hundreds of activists from multiple countries.
Israel detained over 400 of the flotilla’s participants, including anti-Israel and climate activist Greta Thunberg, before deporting them shortly after.
Israeli officials respond to indictment
Netanyahu, Katz, and Ben-Gvir all responded to the indictment on Saturday in separate posts on X/Twitter, with Ben-Gvir posting, “Erdogan, do you understand English? F*ck you.”
Netanyahu responded by accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of having “massacred his own Kurdish citizens.”
“Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies,” said Netanyahu.
Katz accused Erdogan of being a “paper tiger” for “failing to respond to the missiles fired from Iran onto Turkish soil,” referring to the indictment as a “grand absurdity.”
“Israel will continue to defend itself with strength and resolve—and it would be better for Erdoğan to sit quietly and stay silent,” concluded Katz.
Later on Saturday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry responded to the posts by accusing Netanyahu of being “the Hitler of our time” in an X/Twitter post.
“The fact that our President has been targeted by Israeli officials with baseless, brazen, and false allegations is a result of the discomfort caused by the truths we have consistently voiced on every platform,” read the post, adding that Turkey “will continue to stand by innocent civilians and will further its efforts to ensure that Netanyahu is held accountable for the crimes he has committed.”
