Israel's Bezalel Smotrich says ICC arrest warrant request is 'declaration of war'

NEWS SUMMARY

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the International Criminal Court prosecutor's secret arrest warrant application against him for alleged war crimes in the West Bank constitutes a "declaration of war." Smotrich threatened immediate retaliation against Palestinians and vowed to escalate settlement expansion policies, including the expulsion of residents from Khan al-Ahmar.

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Submitted by Sondos Asem on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:38 Finance minister says 'we will fight back with a vengeance' as prosecutors at Hague-based court seek his arrest for crimes against humanity and war crimes Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is surrounded by Israeli settlers at a "resettlement" ceremony of Sa-Nur, south of Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on 19 April 2026 (AFP) Off Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday said the arrest warrant application

Israel's Bezalel Smotrich says ICC arrest warrant request is 'declaration of war'

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