ICC Official Statement: International Court Rejects Reports of Launching New Secret Arrest Warrants Against Israeli Officials

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a formal clarification on Sunday, May 17, 2026, strictly denying the issuance of any new arrest warrants targeting Israeli figures. Characterizing recent journalistic reports as "inaccurate," the Hague-based tribunal sought to stabilize international speculation regarding a potential expansion of its legal mandates against military and political leaders in Tel Aviv.

The Haaretz Leaks and Political Repercussions

The ICC's intervention was triggered by an explosive report published by the Israeli daily Haaretz. Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, the newspaper claimed that the ICC had covertly finalized arrest warrants for five high-ranking Israeli individuals, including three politicians and two military commanders. According to the leak, this classified legal maneuver was designed to supplement the historical warrants executed in November 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Investigative Scope: Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, and West Bank Settlements

This development unfolds amidst persistent intelligence that ICC prosecutors have been scrutinizing the operational conduct of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The court's broader investigative framework remains heavily focused on cases involving West Bank settlement expansions and the ongoing humanitarian fallout of the Gaza war. Israeli media outlets underscored that if these confidential warrants were authenticated, it would legally compel ICC member states to detain these unnamed officials upon arrival, creating unprecedented diplomatic and travel barriers for Israel's leadership.