Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich says ICC is seeking his arrest
Summary
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has secretly asked for an arrest warrant against him. He responded by ordering the evacuation of a Palestinian village in the West Bank and promised to fight back against the Palestinian Authority. The ICC can investigate potential war crimes in Palestinian territories, which Israel does not recognize as under ICC jurisdiction.Key Facts
- Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, says there is a secret ICC arrest warrant request against him.
- Smotrich ordered the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank.
- He said Israel will respond with a "war" against the Palestinian Authority.
- The ICC can investigate war crimes in Palestinian territories because the Palestinian Authority joined the court in 2015.
- Israel is not a member of the ICC and rejects its authority over Israelis.
- The ICC previously issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, a former defense chief, and a Hamas leader.
- The United States, Israel’s key ally, opposes ICC arrest warrants against Israeli officials and imposed sanctions on ICC staff under President Trump.
- Smotrich supports expanding Israeli settlements and keeping control over Gaza and the West Bank, positions rejected by Netanyahu.
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