Jerusalem: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that an international arrest warrant has been issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Smotrich disclosed this information during a news conference, which was reported by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
According to Anadolu Agency, Smotrich referred to the arrest warrant as "a declaration of war" and criticized it as an effort "to impose a policy of security suicide on us through sanctions and arrest warrants." He expressed his rejection of what he termed "hypocritical dictates from biased bodies that repeatedly stand against the State of Israel," and criticized European countries for exhibiting "hypocrisy and double standards."
A report by the daily Haaretz, citing an unnamed diplomatic source, revealed that the ICC's chief prosecutor has requested sealed arrest warrants for several Israeli officials, including three army officials and two politicians. The exact timing of the request remains unspecified.
On Monday, British news outlet Middle East Eye reported that a request had been submitted to the ICC for secret arrest warrants against Smotrich and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The charges involve alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Smotrich also stated his intention to pursue an eviction order for the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank, following the arrest warrant request. However, he acknowledged that signing such an order is beyond the authority of a finance minister. He defended his settlement policies in the West Bank, which may have prompted the warrant request, and claimed credit for establishing over 100 new settlements and 160 agricultural farms.
He further threatened to "economically harm the Palestinian Authority," emphasizing action over rhetoric. The Bedouin community in Khan al-Ahmar, consisting of approximately 200 Palestinians, has long faced displacement threats due to Israeli settlement projects, particularly the 'E1' project.
Khan al-Ahmar is surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements and is located in an area targeted for the E1 project, which involves constructing more than 3,500 settlement units to connect Maale Adumim with East Jerusalem. This plan has faced widespread international opposition due to its potential impact on the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israel's Supreme Court had previously approved the demolition and evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar in preparation for the E1 project. Following the Oslo II Accord in 1995, Israel cited security concerns to justify the demolition of Bedouin homes in Area C, which falls under Israeli control.