Smotrich Claims ICC Seeks Arrest Warrant, Vows Retaliation
Bezalel Smotrich becomes the third Israeli official targeted by the International Criminal Court, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that he had been informed the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague had requested an arrest warrant against him. Speaking at a news conference, Smotrich did not specify who had provided him with this information the previous evening, nor did he confirm whether the warrant had been formally issued. The process for seeking such warrants is confidential, meaning public confirmation typically relies on the statements of those involved rather than official court disclosure.
Smotrich characterised the alleged request as a "declaration of war" and vowed to retaliate with vengeance. In response to the news, he announced plans to sign an order for the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank that has been the subject of a prolonged legal battle with Israeli authorities. The move signals an escalation in settlement policy in the region, despite Smotrich’s stance on permanent conquest of Gaza being rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ICC is reportedly seeking warrants regarding Smotrich’s orders for forced displacement, his support for settler expansion, and comments suggesting it may be "justified and moral" to starve Palestinians in Gaza. If approved, Smotrich would become the third Israeli official targeted by the court. Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant received arrest warrants in November 2024 for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the conflict in Gaza.
The legal proceedings have had significant international repercussions. Judges and prosecutors at the ICC have reportedly been cut off by banks, credit card companies, and technology giants such as Amazon due to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The court also issued arrest warrants for several Hamas leaders who were subsequently killed in Israeli operations, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
Smotrich’s position has previously drawn international censure. Last year, the United Kingdom and four other countries imposed sanctions on him and fellow far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Smotrich has called for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza, a notion that has been rejected by the Israeli government, highlighting internal divisions within the coalition regarding the future of occupied territories.
