According to the finance minister, the International Criminal Court plans to issue a "secret arrest warrant" against him.

Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich said on the 19th that the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, is seeking to issue a "secret arrest warrant" against him. Smotrich said at a press conference that day that he was informed that "a secret international arrest warrant against him had been submitted within the International Criminal Court." He did not disclose where he obtained this information, nor did he mention the reasons why the International Criminal Court is seeking to issue an arrest warrant against him. Smotrich said that issuing an arrest warrant against Israelis is equivalent to "declaring war." According to the Israeli newspaper "Israel National News" on the 17th, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for "secret arrest warrants" to be issued against several Israeli officials. It was previously reported that the prosecutor planned to issue arrest warrants against Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir. The prosecutor had investigated the roles of these two officials in the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and whether they violated the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions. (Xinhua News Agency)