ICC Prosecutor Sought Arrest Warrants Against Israeli Ministers Smotrich, Ben-Gvir
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was reportedly preparing to seek arrest warrants for two far-right Israeli officials, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, over their role in the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, just before going on leave.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing current and former court officials, that the cases against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir center on their roles in expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The cited officials said that war crimes allegations were being considered against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir.
Now, The Hague is examining whether the activities of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to promote settlements in the West Bank constitute a violation of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits countries from transferring their population to territories they have occupied.
In response to the report, Ben-Gvir said, “The prosecutor in The Hague will not scare me, does not threaten me—I will do whatever is necessary to protect my people, even at the cost of issuing a counter-warrant. When there is a warrant against me in The Hague—I know I am on the right path.”
Since the start of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has escalated settlement activity in the West Bank. This is part of a broader strategy to annex more Palestinian land, despite international opposition.
Israel’s settlement expansion continues amid official statements among Knesset members rejecting the creation of a Palestinian state, defying international law. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a halt to these illegal settlements.
There are around 770,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank, spread across 180 settlements and 256 outposts. These settlements are considered illegal under international law.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 24, 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The war crimes include using “starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”
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