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.

Trump says US campaign against ICC is aimed at protecting Netanyahu, others

Trump linked the US push against the ICC to efforts to protect Netanyahu, while Rubio said American service members could also be at risk.

JULY 31, 2026|ByREUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 4, 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.

'We have special forces protection': Netanyahu tells Hannity he's not afraid of ICC arrest warrants

Netanyahu downplayed the risk of countries enforcing ICC arrest warrants placed on him, implying that IDF Special Forces would protect or rescue him.

JULY 29, 2026|ByJAMES GENN

Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain, suspected of having committed war crimes in Darfur, Sudan arrived voluntarily this morning at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, on June 17, 2010.

ICC ends war crimes case against former Darfur rebel leader Abdallah Banda

The prosecution said the evidence against Banda had deteriorated over time since the charges were confirmed over a decade ago in 2011.

JULY 23, 2026|ByREUTERS

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an unknown location, in this still image taken from handout video released July 21, 2026.

Mamdani promised to arrest Netanyahu. Now, he retreats on campaign promise he can't keep - comment

His discovery that the arrest is not legally doable should not come as a surprise; Legal experts have consistently cast doubt on the legality of Mamdani's promise.

JULY 22, 2026|ByMATHILDA HELLER

ICC prosecutor's office says Palestinian probe continues with urgency

The withdrawal of the warrant for Deif means there are now no public ICC arrest warrants for any Palestinian terrorists connected to the October 7 attacks.

FEBRUARY 27, 2025ByREUTERS

Mohammed Deif and the ICC.

ICC cancels arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif

An arrest warrant was issued for Deif even though Israel had confirmed that he had been killed in an Israeli airstrike back in August 2024.

FEBRUARY 27, 2025ByARIELA OHRENSTEIN

Mohammed Deif and the ICC (illustrative).

Could an Israeli state probe have blocked Netanyahu, Gallant's arrest warrants? - analysis

ICC: Attempts to secure the agreement of Israel to allow Gaza access should not be conflated with the planning of actual mission deployments.

FEBRUARY 20, 2025ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

THE ARREST warrants, which the ICC issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, are ridiculous, absurd and baseless, the writer asserts.

Hamas could evade justice if the ICC refuses to take action - opinion

If no action is initiated, Hamas leaders, and its supporters who carried out monstrous crimes on October 7, will go scot-free.

FEBRUARY 17, 2025ByNEVILLE TELLER

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

US Treasury confirms Trump sanctions on ICC prosecutor Karim Khan

Trump said the court had abused its power when issuing "baseless arrest warrants" against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

FEBRUARY 13, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and Gaza in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023

White House confirms war crimes prosecutor first target of ICC sanctions

The sanctions, which repeat action Trump took during his first term, include freezing of US assets of those designated and barring them and their families from visiting the United States.

FEBRUARY 10, 2025ByREUTERS

ICC PROSECUTOR Karim Khan speaks during an interview in The Hague, earlier this year.

Netanyahu's plane avoided Canadian airspace due to ICC arrest warrants - report

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed soon after the warrants were issued that his government would abide by them.

FEBRUARY 10, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Benjamin Netanyahu in front of the ICC headquarters (illustrative).

Former Defense Minister Gallant heckled in New York

"Why should you be allowed to walk the streets of New York?" among the commentary from assailants.

FEBRUARY 9, 2025ByRAQUEL GUERTZENSTEIN FROHLICH

Yoav Gallant.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Khan first to be hit by US sanctions, sources say

Karim Khan, who is British, was named on Friday in an annex - not yet made public - to an executive order signed by Trump a day earlier, a senior ICC official and another source claimed.

FEBRUARY 7, 2025ByREUTERS

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT Prosecutor Karim Khan rewards Islamic terrorism, the writer charges.

Warm and fuzzy statement from Netanyahu, Johnson devoid of plans for Gaza

While mentioning "a future for Gaza" and a "future for peace," Netanyahu did not speak of Trump's plans for the future of the strip.

FEBRUARY 7, 2025ByHANNAH SARISOHN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2025.