Israeli minister orders West Bank hamlet evicted after hearing he may face arrest warrant overseas
The move could clear the way for demolition within weeks as Peace Now says it is part of a broader plan to expand settlements.
- On Tuesday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the immediate evacuation of Khan Al-Ahmar, calling reports of a potential International Criminal Court arrest warrant a "declaration of war."
- The International Criminal Court has previously issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in the Gaza Strip, establishing precedent for ICC action against Israeli leaders.
- Khan Al-Ahmar, home to about 200 Palestinian Bedouins, sits on land intended to link Jerusalem with the Jordan Valley as part of Israel's settlement strategy, making it strategically significant to Palestinian territorial continuity.
- Peace Now criticized the order as part of a broader plan to control the central West Bank area, while Israeli media reported the directive still requires security cabinet approval before implementation.
- In June 2025, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway sanctioned Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for "inciting extremist violence" against Palestinians, reflecting prior international pressure on the minister's policies.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested his arrest. The far-right member of Benjamin Netanyahu's government called the move a "declaration of war" and in response announced that he was ordering the demolition of a Palestinian village near Jerusalem. The ICC itself has not officially confirmed the arrest warrant.
Following the arrest warrant requested from the International Criminal Court, Smotrich announced the demolition order of Khan al-Ahmar, an international symbol against Israeli expropriation.
Israel's Smotrich Responds to ICC Arrest Warrant by Announcing More War Crimes
Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said on Tuesday that he'd been issued a confidential warrant by the International Criminal Court, reportedly in response to his illegal forced expulsion of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank. He said he planned to "fight back" by issuing an order to forcibly evict hundreds more Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank.
Associated Press News
Israeli minister orders West Bank hamlet evicted after hearing he may face arrest warrant overseas
Israel’s finance minister has ordered the eviction of a Palestinian village in the West Bank. He says it is a response to reports that he may be a target of international war crimes prosecutors.
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