Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, reportedly planned to request international arrest warrants for Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir before going on administrative leave due to an ongoing investigation against him concerning alleged sexual offenses. The report was published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal.
The cases against the ministers pertain to their involvement in the expansion of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. The future of the cases now lies with Khan’s two deputies, though it remains unclear whether they intend to proceed with the process.
Legal and professional sources have speculated that the court may hold off on further action until a permanent chief prosecutor is appointed, due to the politically sensitive implications of such legal proceedings.
Potential Fallout
The issuance of arrest warrants against the two Israeli ministers would likely escalate tensions between Israel and the ICC, and could further strain relations with the United States. Washington may respond with new sanctions or other diplomatic measures.
Trump vs. the Prosecutor
Since February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, following the court’s issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
As a result, ICC officials are facing significant operational challenges. Trump’s order goes beyond targeting Khan and ICC personnel—it also threatens fines and imprisonment for any individual or organization that provides Khan with financial, material, or technological support. Several non-governmental organizations and partner companies have since halted their cooperation with the court, fearing repercussions from the U.S. government.
The court’s current actions stand in stark contrast to recent American efforts to ease restrictions on Smotrich and Ben Gvir. In recent months, both ministers have maintained direct contact with Washington, following a notable shift in U.S. policy toward the Religious Zionism party—compared to the boycott previously enforced by the Biden administration.
In November 2024, 88 Democratic members of Congress called on President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Smotrich and Ben Gvir, citing their “critical roles in driving policies that promote settler violence and undermine the Palestinian Authority.”
