Albanese urges ICC arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over torture of Palestinians

Albanese urges ICC arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over torture of Palestinians Submitted by Sondos Asem on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 13:29 UN special rapporteur accuses Ben Gvir, Smotrich and Katz of responsibility for the 'systematic torture' of Palestinians Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, presents her latest report before delegates at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, on 23 March 2026 (Fabrice Cofrini/AFP) Off The UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine , Francesca Albanese, has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to pursue arrest warrants for three senior Israeli ministers she accuses of being responsible for “systematic torture”. In a new report presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Albanese names National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz as the primary political figures allegedly involved in shaping policies that enabled the torture of Palestinians after 7 October 2023. Last year, Middle East Eye reported that the ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, had prepared arrest warrant applications against Ben Gvir and Smotrich before he went on leave in May.