Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister known for his far-right views, has announced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking a confidential arrest warrant against him. In a press conference, he vowed to retaliate against the Palestinian Authority, which he accuses of initiating a 'war' against Israel. Smotrich has ordered the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian Bedouin village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as part of his response. He criticized the ICC, calling it 'antisemitic' and suggesting that its actions reflect a bias against Israel's historical and legal claims to the land.

The ICC operates independently, and the details surrounding the warrant remain confidential. Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction, although the Palestinian territories were admitted in 2015. Smotrich's comments come amid heightened tensions, with previous ICC warrants issued against Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes. His aggressive stance includes calls for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza, a position that has been met with resistance from Prime Minister Netanyahu. The situation raises concerns about further escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international responses to Smotrich's actions.