Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, has stated he was informed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague requested an arrest warrant against him. Smotrich characterized such a move as a “declaration of war,” vowing a reciprocal response. He further threatened the Palestinian Authority, accusing it of orchestrating the international legal action, stating, “The hands are the hands of The Hague, but the voice is the voice of the Palestinian Authority. This organization launched a war and it will get a war. I am not a submissive Jew.” Smotrich did not disclose who informed him of the confidential warrant process or the ICC’s specific reasons. This development follows the ICC’s 2024 issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Gaza, while the International Court of Justice assesses genocide allegations against Israel.
Separately, the Israeli military has issued an urgent warning to residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, instructing them to evacuate immediately in anticipation of impending attacks. The affected areas include Toura, al-Nabatieh al-Tahta, Houbbous, al-Bazouriyeh, Tayr Debba, Kafr Huna, Ain Qana, Labaya, Jibshit, al-Shahabiya, Burj al-Shamali, and Houmein al-Fouqa. According to IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, these attacks are a response to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group, allegedly violating a US-mediated ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in mid-April. Adraee warned that “Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and combat means endangers their life!” While the Israeli military claims to target only Hezbollah infrastructure, its airstrikes have also resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
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