Jakarta, ThedailyID — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an inter-ministerial team to prepare a possible legal case against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The move was reported by Israeli outlet i24NEWS on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The report said the team includes officials from several ministries and the head of Israel’s International Law Department.
According to i24NEWS, the proposed case would focus on two main issues. They involve Turkey’s treatment of its Kurdish population and allegations concerning Ankara’s financial support for Hamas.
The report comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Turkey. Both governments have taken legal and diplomatic steps against each other in recent months.
i24NEWS reported that Netanyahu’s order followed Erdogan’s efforts to seek an Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu. Turkey has pursued legal action against the Israeli prime minister over Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to Turkish authorities.
Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said in August that Ankara had asked its Interior Ministry to seek Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu and another Israeli suspect. The request was linked to proceedings before an Istanbul criminal court involving the flotilla incident.
The Israeli legal team is now expected to compile material related to Erdogan and the Turkish government. However, the proposed case remains at the preparation stage.
i24NEWS reported that Israel could potentially seek to bring the matter before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The outlet also said Israel could seek to use another country to initiate proceedings.
However, there are legal complications. i24NEWS noted that neither Israel nor Turkey is a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
The report also said Israeli officials had not indicated that a case would definitely be filed. Netanyahu and Israeli Justice Ministry officials declined to comment on the report, according to i24NEWS.
The developments add another layer to tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem. Erdogan has repeatedly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, while Netanyahu has accused Turkey of supporting Hamas, claims Ankara has rejected.
