WSJ: ICC prosecutor was readying warrants for Israeli ministers before going on leave

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan was preparing to seek arrest warrants for far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir before going on leave amid a misconduct investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Khan is the only ICC official to be named in the sanctions imposed by Washington in February. He has also been facing a sexual harassment investigation by an external UN body since late last year.

The cases against the Israeli ministers centre on their roles in expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the report said. Khan’s two deputies are to decide whether to pursue the cases now, but it is unclear how they plan to proceed.

The report said some officials and legal experts doubt the court would move forward without a chief prosecutor, given the political risks such a prosecution could bring.