23.10.2026 14:41
The trial of 35 defendants, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has begun with the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding Israel's intervention in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The defendants are sought to be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and up to 4,596 years in prison for 7 crimes, including 'genocide' and 'crimes against humanity'.
The trial regarding Israel’s armed intervention against the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza has begun in Istanbul. In the case, in which ministers from the Israeli government and senior commanders, as well as Netanyahu, are also defendants, the first hearing continues with the statements of the complainants.
FIRST HEARING HELD
Some complainants attended the hearing held at the Istanbul 11th Heavy Penal Court. The President of the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, Rıza Saka, as well as many lawyers and spectators, were also present at the hearing. The hearing continues with the statements of the complainants.
102 COMPLAINANTS; BAR ASSOCIATION LISTED AS “REPORTING PARTY”
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 102 people, including foreign nationals, are listed as “complainants”, while the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2 is listed as the “reporting party”.
FLOTILLA STOPPED IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
The indictment recalled that the flotilla, which included civilians including Turkish citizens, was stopped by Israeli security elements while sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was stated that the persons on board were taken under de facto control without their consent, and that some of them were forcibly removed from the ship and taken to Israel. It was reported that Turkish citizens were deported and brought to Türkiye by air on October 4, 7, 9 and 10, 2025.
It was recorded that forensic and psychological examinations of the victims returning to Türkiye were conducted at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute, the reports were sent to the prosecutor’s office, and the statements of the complainants were sought. It was also stated that official letters were sent to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Presidency to identify persons with criminal responsibility within the scope of the investigation.
“CANNOT BE CONSIDERED MERELY A SECURITY MEASURE”
The indictment alleged that Israel carried out widespread and systematic attacks against civilians in Gaza, blocked humanitarian aid and condemned the population to hunger, thirst and lack of treatment. It included the assessment that these actions cannot be considered merely a security measure and are directly linked to acts constituting genocide and crimes against humanity under international criminal law.
In the indictment, which emphasized that the intervention against the flotilla, given the place and circumstances in which it took place, cannot be seen as a security measure, it was stated that depriving civilians of their liberty and forcibly transferring them to another country could have serious legal consequences.
“EX OFFICIO INVESTIGATION INITIATED”
In the indictment, alleging that an attack was carried out on the flotilla by Israeli navy elements in international waters, the following statements were included:
“As a result of the attack, an ex officio investigation was initiated by our Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the victims detained, within the framework of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the jurisdiction rules in Article 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271, and the competence rules in Articles 12/13 of the Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237.”
“THEY ACTED AS CO-PERPETRATORS”
In the indictment, based on the collected evidence, complainant accounts, open-source footage and institutional correspondence, it was alleged that the suspects who intervened in the ship and managed the operation acted in unity of thought and action. It was claimed that the suspects intervened in civilian ships in an armed and organized manner and deprived the victims of their liberty.
In the indictment, which alleged that some victims were injured during the intervention, it was claimed that the suspects subjected the victims to systematic ill-treatment and engaged in humiliating and degrading conduct.
AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT SOUGHT
The indictment sought separate aggravated life imprisonment and prison sentences ranging from 1,102 years and 9 months each to 4,596 years each for 35 suspects for the crimes of “crimes against humanity”, “genocide”, “deprivation of liberty”, “torture”, “damage to property”, “qualified robbery” and “preventing, hijacking or detaining transportation vehicles”.
MINISTERS AND COMMANDERS ALSO AMONG DEFENDANTS
The names listed as suspects in the indictment are as follows:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir, Commander of the Navy David Saar Salama, Spokesperson of the General Staff Arye Sharuz Shalicar, Head of the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit Daniel Hagari, Head of the Operations Directorate Itzhak Cohen, Commander of the 146th Division Beni Aharon, former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, politician and former major Yigal Brand, Knesset member Tally Gotliv, retired colonel and politician Ran Cohen, retired colonel Omer Barlev, former lieutenant colonel and owner of Jenix Technology Tom Elgara, retired soldier and musician Yehuda Vach, journalist Yoav Zaitoun, Rabbi Nir Ifergan, social media influencer Sivan Amitai, Ghassan Alian, Ariek Kalnner, Guy Tankhilevich, Itay Yari, Moshe Trofi, Oded Edni, Omri Gu, Or Volochinsky, Sean Glass, Shalev Subai, Sharon Kori, Daniel Ella and Afek Moskovitch.