Israeli far right minister Smotrich says ICC prosecutor seeks his arrest

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Tuesday that the ICC prosecutor had submitted a confidential request for an international arrest warrant against him. Smotrich, speaking at a news conference, did not disclose the source of the information or the ICC’s alleged reasons, citing the court’s confidential process. The ICC prosecutor’s office declined to comment due to the secrecy surrounding the proceedings. The ICC previously issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Smotrich dismissed the warrants as a 'declaration of war' by the Palestinian Authority, reflecting Israel’s opposition to international legal scrutiny of its actions in the conflict. Britain and four other nations sanctioned Smotrich and fellow far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir last year, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Smotrich has publicly advocated for the permanent conquest of Gaza and the re-establishment of Jewish settlements abandoned in 2005, positions rejected by Netanyahu. The ICC’s process involves confidential applications from prosecutors, requiring judges to determine reasonable grounds for suspecting crimes under its jurisdiction. Smotrich’s claims, if confirmed, would mark another escalation in legal and diplomatic tensions surrounding the Gaza war.