Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
Statement of the factions: Emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independent national decision.
Statement: Approval to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Statement: The committee is responsible for managing life and services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions, based on transparency and accountability.

ICC weighing arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over West Bank: WSJ

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Wall Street Journal
  • 28 May 2025 15:36
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The International Criminal Court is weighing issuing arrest warrants for Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir over West Bank settlement expansion, amid mounting legal and political pressures.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir, left, and Bezalel Smotrich  at the Knesset in occupied al-Quds, Nov. 15, 2022 (AP)
    Israeli right-wing Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir, left, and Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset in occupied al-Quds, Nov. 15, 2022 (AP)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is weighing arrest warrants for two extreme far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for their roles in expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed on Wednesday. 

The arrest warrant requests were reportedly being prepared by Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan before his leave, current and former ICC officials confirmed. Whether the cases proceed will depend on his two deputies, as concerns grow about the political implications of prosecuting sitting officials in "Israel".

West Bank settlements and war crimes 

The ICC prosecutors are reportedly examining whether Smotrich and Ben-Gvir committed war crimes by advancing the construction and "legal status" of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the transfer of an occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory, an act considered a war crime under the Rome Statute.

Both ministers are prominent advocates of settlement expansion and have publicly called for full Israeli control over the West Bank. They reside in settlements themselves and have supported policies converting illegal outposts into recognized settlements.

Related News

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Activists slam EU: Why was ICC-wanted Netanyahu given passage to US?

It is worth noting that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich both fully support the ongoing genocide in Gaza, have called for the expulsion of Palestinians to other countries, as well as the bombardment of humanitarian aid outposts in Gaza. 

In March, Smotrich told the Jerusalem Post that "The next step in the war in Gaza will be cutting off the electricity and water, and opening the gates of hell on Gaza with a powerful, deadly, and quick attack," while Ben-Gvir explicitly said "Gaza must endure hell. And hell also means bombing all the aid depots that Hamas holds."

Political risks amid Khan's absence 

The timing of the cases is politically fraught, WSJ noted, with Khan temporarily out of office and under investigation by the United Nations, legal experts question whether the court will move forward on such a politically sensitive issue.

Some officials argue that advancing the cases now could provoke significant backlash, particularly from the United States, which has previously imposed sanctions on the court and Khan himself.

“This political landscape is extremely dangerous for the ICC,” said Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association and an ICC sanctions advisor. “The court is facing an existential threat.”

Legal basis and jurisdiction over Israeli actions

Though "Israel" is not a party to the ICC, the court ruled in 2021 that it has jurisdiction over crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Authority joined the Rome Statute in 2015 and granted the ICC jurisdiction over its territory, which includes the West Bank, East occupied al-Quds, and Gaza.

"Israel" claims that the West Bank was not the territory of a recognized state in 1967 and thus is not "occupied" in the legal sense, a position widely rejected by the international legal community. Additionally, the International Court of Justice and numerous UN resolutions confirm that the settlements are illegal under international law.

  • ICC arrest warrant
  • International Criminal Court
  • ICC
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Karim Khan
  • Illegal settlements
  • West Bank
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli war crimes
  • Bezalel Smotrich
  • Itamar Ben-Gvir
  • Gaza

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Undated photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Goeje Shipyard in South Korea (Hanwha Ocean)
Politics

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

Catherine Connolly speaks after being after being elected as the new President of Ireland at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Connolly wins Irish presidency in blow to political establishment

Buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen in the Al-Shati camp, in Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel's' post-ceasefire demolitions in Gaza violate agreement: Hamas

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: Our nuclear bomb is resilience, not weapons

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS