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.

Israel Katz's populist push to pardon Elor Azaria puts Israel at serious risk - comment

Azaria was not convicted of mere "negligent homicide", but of manslaughter for his actions in 2016.

JULY 14, 2026|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who was caught on video shooting a wounded Palestinian assailant in the head as he lay on the ground, sits during a hearing at a military appeals court in Tel Aviv during which he was charged with manslaughter on April 18, 2016.

US President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One as he departs Bismarck Municipal Airport on July 01, 2026 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Trump traveled to North Dakota to attend the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication.

Trump administration launches campaign to dismantle ICC efforts to infringe on US sovereignty

President Donald Trump and other US officials, such as former President George W. Bush, have long said the ICC should not have the authority to investigate and prosecute Americans.

JULY 13, 2026|ByREUTERS

Rocket trails are seen in the sky amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya on March 23, 2026.

Iran targeted civilians as tactic of war, new report pushes IRGC accountability - interview

Adv. Uri Morad said that Iran’s missile campaign targeted civilians as a tactic of war, and argued that senior Iranian leaders should face legal action.

JULY 6, 2026|BySAM HALPERN

IDF MILITARY ADVOCATE GENERAL Maj.-Gen. Itay Offir seen speaking at the Israel Bar Association's annual conference in Eilat, May 2026.

IDF legal chief to issue key rulings on Gaza war crimes allegations in coming weeks - exclusive

MILITARY AFFAIRS: The Jerusalem Post has learned that Itay Offir will soon announce decisions on the World Central Kitchen and International Red Crescent cases.

JUNE 19, 2026|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

Herzog decries US campus antisemitism in meeting with American judges

Herzog concedes concern, not for Israel alone, but for Jewish students in American universities who are constantly suffering harassment.

MARCH 4, 2025ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

Israel's President Isaac Herzog speaks during a swearing in ceremony for new chief rabbis at the President Residence in Jerusalem, November 4, 2024.

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.