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

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese is calling on the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for three Israeli ministers. She accuses National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Defence Minister Israel Katz of responsibility for the "systematic torture" of Palestinians. A new report presented to the UN Human Rights Council asserts that these actions are a foundational part of a genocidal project. The alleged torture extends beyond prisons to include widespread displacement, infrastructure destruction, and the denial of humanitarian aid, creating a "torturous environment" across the occupied territories.