As Ankara turns to Interpol, more than 100 former diplomats seek a trade ban on Israel
Turkey sought a red notice for Netanyahu as more than 100 former British and French diplomats called for trade and arms bans; three governments criticised the closed World Central Kitchen case.
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More than 100 former diplomats called for trade and arms bans
50 former British diplomats and 52 former French diplomats sent a joint letter to Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham calling for bans on trade and arms sales to Israel. Many signatories had served in Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. British names included former UN envoys Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry; French signatories included former foreign ministry officials Patrice Paoli and Stanislas de Laboulaye. The letter recalled that Britain and France recognised Palestine as a state in 2025 and urged the two governments to take a common position on equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.[1]
Turkey requested a red notice for Netanyahu
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said Turkey had asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another Israeli named Afek Moskovitch. The request follows domestic arrest warrants in a case concerning Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters. Gurlek said the warrants cover accusations including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. Israel rejects Ankara's accusations about its conduct. Turkey had previously issued domestic warrants for Netanyahu, while France, Italy and Australia opened their own judicial proceedings concerning the detention of activists from the flotilla.[2]
Three governments challenged the World Central Kitchen decision
Britain, Australia and Canada issued a joint statement after Israeli military prosecutors closed the file on the April 2024 strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers. The three governments called the unexplained decision too little and too late and said the victims and their families deserved justice and accountability. Israel's military had previously acknowledged a series of errors across levels of command and called the strike a tragic mistake. Israel's foreign ministry said prosecutors had decided on professional and legal grounds. World Central Kitchen described the decision as deeply offensive and requested an independent investigation.[3]
