International law

International Court of Justice:
Clarifications on international law concerning Israel

International Court of Justice: Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) Documents and timeline. (Declarations of intervention are from countries supporting the legal case against Israel).

International Court of Justice:
Landmark ruling on 19 July 2024 - Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful. The ICJ ordered Israel to dismantle settlements, provide reparations, and withdraw.

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the international treaty that established the Court. It consists of a Preamble and 13 Parts, setting out the Court's governing framework. Adopted at the Rome Conference on 17 July 1998, it came into force on 1 July 2002, creating the International Criminal Court.

International Criminal Court Investigation launched 3 March 2021 into crimes in Palestine since 13 June 2014, including timeline.ICC-01/18

Warrants issued for:
Yahya Sinwar (Hamas)
Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al Masri (Deif, Hamas)
Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas)
20 May 2024

Charges include murder, hostage-taking, rape, torture, and cruel treatment. These acts occurred within the context of a 'non-international' armed conflict.

Warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel)
Yoav Gallant (Minister of Defense, Israel) 20 May 2024

Accused of starving civilians as a war tactic, cutting off water and electricity supplies, systematic intentional killing and murder, obstructing aid, attacks on aid and medical workers,
deliberately targeting civilians, extermination and murder,
and other inhumane acts causing severe suffering among civilians.

Judicial decision dismisses Israel's appeals concerning warrants

17 October 2025 ICC-01/18-468
and ICC-01/18 OA3 rejected Israel's appeals.

What does this mean? While these rulings carry significant weight in international law, neither court has enforcement powers. The ICJ, currently investigating genocide, is maintaining judicial neutrality during its fact-finding process. However, these decisions empower countries to apply political pressure and sanctions without risking illegality.
The ICJ's investigation will take years, but once human rights violations are established, reparations can be ordered and enforced. [example]