Key facts
- The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.
- The court has 125 member states.
- Investigations are ongoing in Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Uganda, DR Congo, Venezuela, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
- Arrest warrants have been issued for Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin.
- Rodrigo Duterte faces trial on November 30 for crimes against humanity.
- The US opposes ICC jurisdiction over its nationals and has imposed sanctions on ICC officials.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves. The court has 125 member states.
The ICC is currently conducting investigations in the Palestinian territories, Ukraine, African states such as Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Venezuela, Myanmar, and the Philippines. It has 34 cases before it and has issued 68 arrest warrants.
Notable suspects include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of war crimes in the Gaza conflict, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused of illegally deporting Ukrainian children. Both Israel and Russia, which are not member states, deny the accusations and argue the ICC lacks jurisdiction. Warrants were also issued for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, whose death was later confirmed, and for two senior Afghan Taliban leaders accused of persecuting women.
Prosecutors have requested warrants for Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity related to the alleged persecution of the Rohingya. Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to go on trial on November 30 for charges of murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs, accusations he denies. A Libyan accused of overseeing a notorious prison also awaits trial.
The United States opposes the ICC's jurisdiction over its nationals and has previously imposed sanctions on ICC officials. In 2020, Washington sanctioned the court's then-chief prosecutor and another official over an investigation into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. Following the ICC's announcement of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant in early 2025, Trump authorized economic and travel sanctions against ICC officials targeting the US and its allies not members of the court. Washington has since imposed sanctions on 13 ICC officials, including nine judges. Trump has referred to the ICC as a "rogue institution" and "an evil group of people."
Despite not being a member, the ICC claims jurisdiction over some non-member states' nationals if crimes are committed on the territory of member states or involve cross-border crimes partially taking place in a member state. This reasoning applies to cases involving Israelis in Gaza and Palestinians in Israel, and to alleged crimes by Myanmar officials partially occurring in neighboring Bangladesh. The Philippines, though not currently a member, was a member between 2011 and 2019, and the ICC retains jurisdiction for crimes committed during that period.
To date, ICC judges have issued 15 convictions and four acquittals. Twenty-three people have appeared before the court, and 34 wanted suspects remain at large. Warrants have been withdrawn for nine suspects who died. Of the 15 convictions, 10 were for core offenses like war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the defendants being African militia leaders. Prison terms have ranged from nine to 30 years, with life imprisonment being the maximum sentence.