Adopted in 1998, the Rome Statute is the constitutional treaty establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC). It defines the core international crimes—genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression—and creates a permanent jurisdiction based on the principle of complementarity, intervening only when national systems are unwilling or unable to prosecute.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Russian commanders for deportation and infrastructure attacks. Ukraine ratified the Rome Statute in 2025, albeit limiting jurisdiction over its nationals. While Mongolia defied warrants, diplomatic pressure restricts Putin's travel. To close jurisdictional gaps, a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression was established in June 2025

The International Criminal Court primarily acts based on the consent of its 125 member states. However, it can exercise jurisdiction over non-members (like Russia or Sudan) through UN Security Council referrals or if crimes occur on a member's territory. Major powers like the US and China remain non-participants

On 21 November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starvation and persecution. Rejecting Israel's jurisdictional challenges, the Court obligated 124 member states to execute the arrests, triggering strong condemnation from Israel and the US.

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