Israel's hard‑line finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that he has ordered the demolition of the West Bank Bedouin hamlet Khan al‑Ahmar, citing a reported arrest‑warrant request from the International Criminal Court prosecutor. The minister claimed the move was retaliation for the ICC's alleged action, in a broader push to silence critics, though the court neither confirmed nor denied any such request.

Israeli courts have already ruled Khan al‑Ahmar illegal because it lacks building permits, clearing a legal path for demolition. The village, home to roughly 150 residents, sits on land earmarked for expansion of nearby Jewish settlements. European Union officials and human‑rights groups argue the forced transfer undermines prospects for a contiguous future Palestinian state and has faced international condemnation.

Smotrich’s threat comes as the ICC already issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over Gaza war crimes, claims the Israelis reject as biased. By pushing ahead with the Khan al‑Ahmar eviction, Smotrich signals a hardening of settlement policy that could strain Israel’s diplomatic ties and raise costs for companies operating in contested areas and could affect foreign investment flows.