Administrative heart and de facto capital of the Netherlands
A 58-year-old Syrian man, Rafiq al Q., is on trial in The Hague, accused of being a member of the pro-Assad National Defence Force and involved in torture during Syria's civil war. He denies the allegations, claiming conspiracy and innocence. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute war crimes under universal jurisdiction.
The UN-backed case remains ongoing as Ratko Mladic’s defense argues he is in advanced medical decline and should be released on health grounds; prosecutors and victims’ groups warn against any outside movement, citing continued risk to justice.
The ICC has confirmed charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity related to his deadly "war on drugs". Judges have found substantial grounds to believe Duterte ordered murders and attempted murders during his terms as mayor and president. The trial will proceed despite his defense claiming mental unfitness. Meanwhile, El Salvador is conducting a mass trial of 486 alleged gang members accused of over 47,000 crimes under President Bukele's crackdown.
A 33-year-old man has been charged after being found with two axes in a The Hague hotel room, amid threats to Dutch princesses Amalia and Alexia. Prosecutors say he has accused Amalia of instructing the purchase of weapons and has carved extremist inscriptions on the implements.
A bomb exploded at D66’s The Hague headquarters on May 8 during a youth-wing meeting. No injuries have been reported. A 37-year-old suspect has been arrested. Prime Minister Jetten has condemned the attack as an attempt to intimidate democracy. This follows a prior 2025 incident at the same building.
Israeli settlers have been attacking Palestinians across the West Bank, displacing communities, injuring and killing civilians and vandalising property; Israeli authorities have charged at least one suspected attacker, while the ICC has been preparing arrest-warrant applications against Israeli ministers for alleged crimes including forced displacement and apartheid. (As of 24 May 2026.)
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he was informed of an ICC arrest-warrant request and has ordered the immediate evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar. The ICC has not confirmed any new warrants; Israeli security bodies and courts will determine if and when the order takes effect.
Felicien Kabuga, once a top financier of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, has died in UN custody at 93. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial due to dementia and was too ill to be returned to Rwanda, leaving investigators to probe the circumstances of his death.
The International Criminal Court has begun pretrial hearings for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a Libyan former militia commander accused of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to detention centres in Mitiga prison near Tripoli between 2015 and 2020. The proceedings will determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial.
Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar faces a looming evacuation order after Israel’s far-right finance minister Smotrich has said he is coordinating steps to expel residents, pending cabinet approval. He claims the ICC is seeking an arrest warrant, a claim denied by the ICC; residents fear demolition and displacement amid broader settlement expansion in Area C.
The hearing has concluded documenting the death of Félicien Kabuga, the alleged financier of Rwanda’s genocide, while the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals faces an uncertain future as its mandate ends in June. Death comes after years of detention in The Hague amid dementia and unfitness for trial.
The ICJ has issued an advisory opinion finding that the right to strike is protected under ILO Convention 87, in a 10-4 ruling. The opinion is narrow and not a ruling on the exact content or scope of the right; it is non-binding but influential.
The Philippine civilian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has launched to document killings in Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, which ICC warrants target Duterte ally Ronald Dela Rosa and others. The commission aims to collect testimonies, produce an evidence-based record, and steer accountability, healing, and reform.
The Hague hosts BlowUp Jubilee, a monthlong open‑air art festival featuring 24 inflatable works, including a 7‑meter pan near the Mauritshuis. The event returns with previous installations and new pieces as part of a broader celebration around the Binnenhof renovations.
Syria has located remnants of Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions. Eighteen suspects, including high-ranking officials, have been detained as part of ongoing investigations by Syrian authorities with the OPCW.
The International Criminal Court has charged former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity over the killings during his anti-drug crackdown. Duterte has waived attendance and remains in The Hague, with prosecutors detailing deaths that exceed thousands during 2016–2022. The court has noted health concerns but has allowed participation with adjusted sitting times.
The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration has rejected Rwanda's financial claims over the collapsed UK–Rwanda asylum deal, finding diplomatic exchanges after the scheme's 2024 cancellation amounted to agreement not to pay two £50m tranches. The tribunal has dismissed all Rwandan claims and both governments have said the matter is concluded.
The Times of Israel reports that a defamation suit against The New York Times is being considered, following a May article alleging sexual abuse by Israeli authorities in detention. Legal experts say any suit would be difficult, with US standards on defamation and potential discovery risk. Israel's government remains tight-lipped about the process.
European leaders unveil a technology sovereignty package to boost domestic semiconductors, cloud capacity and data centers, aiming to reduce reliance on non‑European tech providers amid geopolitical tensions. The package faces Parliament and Council scrutiny and could reshape how public services rely on digital infrastructure.
Palestinian athletes, including Rand Halawani, are detained by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem after protests; some are released with house arrest as investigations continue. The Palestinian Football Association condemns the detentions as part of a broader pattern targeting Palestinian athletes, while international observers note ongoing rights concerns.
The ICCs oversight bureau has suspended Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and referred him to disciplinary proceedings after finding he had committed serious misconduct. The bureau has sent the case to the Assembly of States Parties, which will hold a special session to decide whether to remove him; Khan denies wrongdoing and will challenge the decision.
A Hague court has convicted Rafik A. of torturing and raping prisoners during Syria’s civil war and has sentenced him to prison. The case marks the first time sexual violence has been prosecuted as a crime against humanity in the Netherlands; several other Europe-wide trials under universal jurisdiction are ongoing.
The Philippines’ Senate has shifted leadership ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, with Sherwin Gatchalian securing the presidency of the chamber after a bloc allied with him gains a majority. The move follows months of intra-chamber discord tied to broader clashes between Duterte and Marcos and potential ICC actions.
The ICC's executive bureau has found that Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan engaged in a serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty and should be removed. A vote by the Assembly of States Parties on his fate is scheduled for July 24 in New York. Khan denies the allegations.
Niger has initiated the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, becoming the third country to leave the ICC after Burundi and the Philippines. The move follows a 2023 military coup and signals growing regional tensions over international justice mechanisms amid shifting alliances with Russia and mounting security challenges in the Sahel.
Leaders gather as Donald Trump has intensified his critique of NATO, pressing allies on defense spending and military support amid ongoing tensions over Iran. Rutte is working to keep unity as Washington signals possible reductions in Europe-focused forces, with a July summit in Ankara on the horizon.