The International Criminal Court has completed draft arrest-warrant applications for Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on allegations of apartheid and other war crimes linked to the expansion of West Bank settlements, according to a report by Middle East Eye on 15 August. Two ICC deputy prosecutors now hold the files and are weighing whether to file them, the report said. Some officials fear the move could trigger U.S. sanctions, echoing past measures Washington has taken against the court. The applications were prepared before ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan temporarily stepped aside amid an internal investigation into sexual-misconduct allegations, adding uncertainty to how quickly—or whether—the court will act.
The ICC has prepared arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over alleged war crimes linked to West Bank settlement expansion and efforts to change the region’s demographics, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention. Prosecutor Karim Khan has temporarily stepped aside amid sexual https://t.co/DNIeekTQNs
🚨🇮🇱 NEW: The ICC is ready to apply for arrest warrants for Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on charges of apartheid [@MiddleEastEye]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has completed arrest warrant applications for Israel’s Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich but two deputy prosecutors might not file them out of fear of US sanctions. https://t.co/OKQqVChpS6