War crimes of two Israeli ministers under ICC scrutiny

According to The Wall Street Journal, current and former ICC officials stated that Karim Khan, the court's chief prosecutor, was working on requests for arrest warrants targeting two extremist members of the Israeli cabinet before taking leave amid a UN investigation into allegations against him.

The cases target Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of Internal Security, due to their roles in expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the decision to proceed with these cases now rests with Khan’s two deputies, and it remains unclear what approach they will take. Some officials and legal experts doubt whether the court can pursue such high-risk cases without the chief prosecutor’s presence.

Continuing this process will escalate tensions between the ICC and the Israeli regime, extending the conflict beyond the Gaza war, for which the court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year. Issuing new arrest warrants is likely to further strain relations with the United States and may lead to fresh sanctions from Washington.

The Geneva Conventions prohibit states from transferring their populations to occupied territories. According to officials, ICC prosecutors are also investigating the roles of other Israeli officials in expanding West Bank settlements. The International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest judicial body, deems Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal.

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have supported expanding Israeli control over the West Bank. Both reside in West Bank settlements and have called for the complete annexation of the region to occupied territories. The court is reviewing their cases at a time when the institution faces politically challenging circumstances.