INTERPOL Red Notice Against Benjamin Netanyahu
PRESS RELEASE Issued by the Geneva Center for Democracy and Human Rights, the International Justice Forum in Istanbul, and the International Union of Jurists – Geneva Office Regarding the Republic of Türkiye’s Initiation of Proceedings to Obtain an INTERPOL Red Notice Against Benjamin Netanyahu 25 August 2026 The International Justice Forum in Istanbul, the Geneva Center for Democracy and Human Rights, and the International Union of Jurists – Geneva Office, welcome, support, and fully endorse the legal action undertaken by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye to initiate proceedings aimed at obtaining an INTERPOL Red Notice against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with the grave allegations against him concerning the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, and other serious violations of international law. This measure is not merely a judicial procedure; rather, it establishes a legal and moral position of profound significance: justice must not yield to political power, and official positions—regardless of their rank—must never serve as a shield behind which those accused of committing the most heinous and dangerous crimes against humanity may seek refuge. Throughout the assault on the Gaza Strip, the world has witnessed horrifying episodes of mass killing, starvation, siege, forced displacement, and the systematic destruction of the basic foundations of life, in addition to attacks against civilians, children, women, medical and humanitarian personnel, healthcare and educational facilities, and places of worship. Such acts cannot be met with silence; they demand serious international judicial action capable of bringing the entrenched pattern of impunity to an end. While commending this courageous Turkish position, we regard it as a responsible expression of commitment to the rules of international law and the values of justice. It also conveys a clear message: political immunity must not be transformed into a certificate of innocence, nor should international influence become a veil that conceals crimes or obstructs accountability. States’ obligations in relation to grave international crimes are neither subject to diplomatic courtesy nor governed by prevailing balances of power. Crimes that offend humanity as a whole give rise to a shared international responsibility, and the prosecution of their perpetrators is a legal and moral duty that must neither be suspended nor diminished under any pretext. We further assert that double standards in the enforcement of international law do not harm victims alone; they also undermine the authority of justice itself and erode confidence in the international legal order in its entirety. Accordingly, we call upon all States to follow the example set by the Republic of Türkiye by activating their national jurisdictions, opening independent and transparent criminal investigations, and issuing arrest warrants against all persons found responsible for committing international crimes, ordering or inciting their commission, or otherwise contributing to them. We affirm that prosecuting those responsible for crimes committed against the Palestinian people constitutes a victory for the rights of victims, safeguards international law from collapse, and protects humanity from a world in which grave crimes become permissible whenever committed by those who wield power and influence. We also reiterate that the rights of victims are not extinguished by the passage of time, and that sustained action is required to confront impunity through the rule of law until the perpetrators are brought before a fair and impartial court and the victims obtain their legitimate rights to justice, effective remedy, and reparation. End