The Hague tops the news as Dutch courts probe far-right plots and war-crime cases tied to ICC actions—city hosts major trials and diplomacy. Pop: Den Haag, capital of South Holland, seat of government and international law.
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.
Between May 15–19, 2026, Israeli far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich has faced an ICC arrest-warrant application alleging forced displacement, persecution and apartheid in the occupied West Bank, while Palestinian communities across the West Bank have been experiencing rising settler attacks, killings and repeated forced displacements that have worsened economic hardship and internal displacement.
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, the once-wanted financer of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, has died in U.N. custody. He was declared unfit to stand trial in 2023 due to dementia, and no country has accepted him for return. The IRMCT has ordered an inquiry into his death.
The International Criminal Court is holding pretrial hearings for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a Libyan former militia commander accused of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes at Mitiga prison in Tripoli between 2015 and 2020. Proceedings began in The Hague, with judges weighing whether to move to a full trial within 60 days.