Ben-Gvir Welcomes Potential ICC Warrant as Badge of Honor

Reports from The Wall Street Journal suggest that ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was preparing to seek warrants for Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding their roles in expanding West Bank settlements before he took leave to address sexual assault allegations. Both ministers reside in those settlements, which have grown significantly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.

While the court previously issued warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the current status of the cases against Ben-Gvir and Smotrich remains uncertain. Jurisdiction over the files has shifted to Khan’s deputies, leaving the future of the prosecution in limbo. Meanwhile, internal concerns persist that the misconduct allegations against Khan provide political ammunition for critics looking to discredit the tribunal’s broader work in the Palestinian territories.