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The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have received unprecedented public attention for their attempts to prosecute alleged war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.
The ICC prosecutes individuals, while the ICJ prosecutes states. While the ICJ was established in 1945, as part of the human rights architecture built after World War II, the ICC is a younger organization, founded in 2002. Both are based in The Hague, Netherlands.
The ICC made headlines in March 2023 when it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and another Russian official over an alleged plan to deport Ukrainian children.
In November 2024, he also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant. Arrest warrants were also issued for three senior Hamas leaders, all of whom have since been killed by Israel.
In February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order sanctioning the ICC, accusing it of abusing its power by “issuing baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and Gallant.
The ICJ also gained global notoriety by hearing a genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa. Although the court has not yet issued a final decision, it issued “provisional measures” in early 2024 ordering Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza.
The ICJ is also examining a genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar, concerning the treatment of Rohingya Muslims.
Nina Græger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), told CNN that the two tribunals would be worthy winners for helping to “uphold international law and international standards.”
