ANKARA, Aug. 22 -- Akin Gurlek made the announcement on a Friday afternoon, in a post to social media: Turkiye had formally requested Interpol issue red notices for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, charging him with genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture. The move escalated a legal campaign that Turkey's government has waged since Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in May, firing on civilian aid vessels in international waters and detaining hundreds of activists.

The justice minister's post framed the step in unambiguous terms. "We will not allow the crimes committed in Gaza to be covered up or those responsible to be protected by a shield of impunity," Gurlek said. Turkiye's domestic courts had alread...