Israel and ICC Clash Again over Gaza War Investigations

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, confirmed that he had been informed of an alleged secret request by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant against him. In response, he declared that Israel would wage “war” against the Palestinian Authority.

Smotrich also announced that he had ordered the evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank. He said the move was part of a broader crackdown on the Palestinian Authority, which he accused of supporting international legal action against Israel over the war in Gaza.

The ICC prosecutor’s office declined to comment on the allegations and reiterated the confidentiality of the court’s proceedings. Smotrich did not disclose who informed him of the alleged request or on what grounds the prosecution was seeking the warrant. Israel does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction.

Smotrich described the ICC as “anti-Semitic” and rejected what he called the “hypocritical dictates of biased authorities”. He also pledged to continue supporting the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Gaza conflict. The United States subsequently imposed sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors involved in investigations related to the situation in Palestine.

(reuters, max)