Israel's finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has ordered the eviction of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan Al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, saying the move is a response to reports that he could face action from the International Criminal Court. Smotrich described the possibility of an arrest warrant as a 'declaration of war' and said he would use his authority to target interests under his control.

Khan Al-Ahmar, home to nearly 200 Palestinians and a European Union funded school, has long faced demolition orders from Israeli authorities. Israel says the village was built illegally on state land, while critics argue that construction permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain and that demolition would clear the way for expanded Israeli settlements.

The village sits in a strategically sensitive area where Israel plans to develop a new settlement bloc, a project that critics say would further fragment the West Bank and undermine the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. Although Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal to block demolition in 2018, previous evacuation efforts have faced legal and international opposition.

An Israeli anti settlement watchdog group accused Smotrich of seeking retaliation against the international community at the expense of a vulnerable community. It remains unclear when the eviction order could take effect, as it may still require additional government approval and could face further legal challenges.