International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague in The Netherlands is the world's sole permanent court with the power to prosecute individuals for international crimes. These crimes include genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

Typically, cases will advance to the ICC once they have cycled through local and national courts with no prosecution of crimes.

As of September 2021, 123 countries are signed on the Rome Statute, the binding legal treaty that enacted the creation of the court and serves as its legal guide. Israel signed on to the Statute on December 31, 2000, but its signature was never approved or accepted.

The Judicial Division is the body of lawmakers that hears cases, headed by the president. Cases are brought to the Judicial Division by the Prosecutor.

On March 3, 2021, then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced the opening of a full war crimes probe against Israel and Hamas, focusing on the Gaza wars in 2014 and 2018, as well as the launching of rockets by Hamas against Israeli civilians and the settlement enterprise.

Mamdani admits he lacks authority to arrest PM Netanyahu, urges US to join ICC

Mamdani stated that he has “reviewed every avenue available” to determine whether the city could execute the ICC's arrest warrant if Netanyahu were to visit New York City.

JULY 22, 2026|ByGOLDIE KATZ, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America at City Hall in New York, NY, US, July 3, 2026.

Festival goers look towards the mainstage during the opening day of the 20th Tomorrowland electronic music festival in Boom, Northern Belgium, on July 17, 2026.

Hind Rajab Foundation files complaint against IDF veteran attending Belgium music festival

The festival is held annually over two weekends at a park near the town of Boom, between Antwerp and Brussels.

JULY 21, 2026|ByYOAV ETIEL

(Illustrative) Pro-Palestine protests in Madrid.

Pro-Palestinian NGOs sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (TAAG) filed the lawsuit in the federal court in Manhattan last week.

JULY 19, 2026|ByMATHILDA HELLER

Israel and Colombia flags at the peaceful protest of the members of the active reserve of the military and police forces against the government of Gustavo Petro, October 2023.

Colombia withdraws from ICC case against Israel, promises new embassy in Jerusalem

The announcement, made by incoming Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriell, said that Colombia aims to restore the "historic ties with Israel," following the government of Gustavo Petro.

JULY 19, 2026|ByANNA BARSKY

Qatar-linked intelligence operation reportedly targets ICC prosecutor's alleged victim - Guardian

Private intelligence firms target woman who accused ICC prosecutor of sexual abuse, seeking personal details about her family in an attempt to discover ties to Israel.

NOVEMBER 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

: International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan at the United Nations headquarters on January 27, 2025 in New York City.

Sde Teiman leak: Does Israel's government fear the extreme Right more than ICC's legal fallout?

How did this leak get caught out of so many against the prime minister that were not caught?

NOVEMBER 2, 2025ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

Demonstrates protest against the detention of Israeli reserve soldiers suspected of assaulting a Hamas terrorist, at the Sde Teiman military base near Beersheba, July 29, 2024.

Israel urges Canadian PM Carney to drop call for arrest of Netanyahu

Carney stated on Monday that he would uphold former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to uphold the ICC's arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

OCTOBER 21, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, October 20, 2025

Italy's Meloni says she has been denounced to ICC for complicity in genocide

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni says she and two ministers were reported to the ICC for alleged complicity in genocide over Israel’s Gaza offensive.

OCTOBER 8, 2025ByREUTERS

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Bahrain's Crown and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, September 29, 2025.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announce exit from International Criminal Court

The announcement ended the West African countries' two-decade-long membership in the ICC.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025ByREUTERS

An exterior of The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, September 22, 2025.

Trump says he would intervene if NYC mayor tried to have Netanyahu arrested

Trump vowed to step in if mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani directed NYPD to arrest Netanyahu, calling the idea “inappropriate.”

SEPTEMBER 19, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the opening of a temporary migrant detention center informally known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in Ochopee, Florida, US, July 1, 2025.

Qatar says it is pursuing legal action against Israel at ICC

Qatari State Minister Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi announced in a post on X on Wednesday that Qatar was pursuing legal avenues to "respond to the Israeli aggression against the State of Qat

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

THE INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court building in The Hague: The ICC has no viable plan to bring to justice the Hamas leaders who conceived the mega-atrocity in Israel, or the terrorist organization’s supporters who slaughtered 1,200 civilians and seized 251 people as hostages on October 7, 2023

ICC starts hearing on charges against Uganda's fugitive warlord Joseph Kony

Kony's victims were happy the ICC was moving forward with the case but lamented the lack of financial compensation for his alleged victims.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025ByREUTERS

Joseph Kony, November 12, 2006.

Palestinian NGOs vow to continue cooperation with ICC after US sanctions

The groups are the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and Al-Haq, based in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025ByREUTERS

Palestinians who fled from combat zones in the Gaza Strip arrive in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, September 2, 2025.

Chief ICC prosecutor faces additional sexual misconduct accusation - report

A former intern says Khan made repeated unwanted advances in 2009, as a UN watchdog reportedly investigates multiple misconduct claims against the ICC prosecutor.

AUGUST 28, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

(Illustrative) ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan over a back drop of the ICC.