Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed dismay over the delay by the International Criminal Court in seeking an arrest warrant for Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister. Albanese accused Smotrich of being a key figure behind what she labeled as “genocidal policies” against Palestinians.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s criticism came following the Israeli cabinet’s approval of Smotrich’s plan to legalize five settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank. Despite acknowledging political pressures on the ICC, Albanese questioned why an arrest warrant had not been requested for Smotrich.
The Israeli Cabinet’s endorsement of Smotrich’s proposals to legitimize settler outposts and impose sanctions on the Palestinian Authority raised further concerns about the legality of such actions under international law. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan had previously sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and genocide against Palestinians.
This ongoing situation highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the pursuit of justice through international legal mechanisms like the ICC.
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