Smotrich and Ben Gvir Faced ICC Arrest Warrants Before Prosecutor’s Suspension
Smotrich and Ben Gvir Named in ICC Inquiry as Prosecutor Faces Sexual Misconduct Probe Amid U.S. Threats
Watan-Current and former International Criminal Court (ICC) officials told The Wall Street Journal that Prosecutor Karim Khan was preparing to request arrest warrants for Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for their roles in expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. This move came just before Khan temporarily stepped down from his position due to a UN-led investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
The legal effort unfolds amid unprecedented political pressure on the ICC, particularly after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes committed during the war in Gaza. Experts warn that the court faces a politically perilous moment that could affect its future decisions and its operational viability.
According to officials, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor is examining whether Smotrich and Ben Gvir committed war crimes by advocating for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank—actions that violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territories. Investigations are also ongoing into other Israeli officials involved in settlement expansion.
The ICC declined to comment on individual cases but reaffirmed that it is mandated to investigate crimes committed in Palestinian territories since 2014, following the Palestinian Authority’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction. Spokespeople for Smotrich and Ben Gvir did not respond to requests for comment.
Ben Gvir, in response to the report, stated:“No arrest warrant will stop me from working for the people and the land of Israel.”
Both ministers are staunch advocates of expanding Israeli control over the West Bank and reside in settlements themselves, often calling for Israel to annex the entire territory.
The ICC is considering these cases at a time of extreme political sensitivity. The arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant last year triggered backlash from the U.S., with the Trump administration imposing sanctions on Karim Khan.
Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association and an ICC advisor on sanctions, warned:“Given the current political landscape, the Office of the Prosecutor and the court itself must exercise caution. The ICC is facing an existential threat.”
Khan took leave this month after allegations from a female aide in her 30s, who claimed he coerced her into sex multiple times and used the Netanyahu and Gallant investigations to exert control. Khan denies all allegations.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a second round of sanctions against the ICC, which experts fear could isolate the court from the global financial system and paralyze its operations entirely.
