What in the World, What in the World, What is the International Criminal Court?

What in the World

What in the World

What is the International Criminal Court?


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April 8, 2025

10 minutes

Available for over a year

The International Criminal Court has been in the spotlight recently after it issued several arrest warrants for both Hamas and Israeli officials involved in the Israel-Gaza war. Following this, US President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court and Hungary also accused them of being ‘politically biased”.

Based in the Dutch city of The Hague, the court was established in 2002 and has the power to bring prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. But how does it all work? And what powers does the ICC have? Anna Holligan, a BBC correspondent, based in the Netherlands tells us all the information you need to know to understand what’s happening with the ICC.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart

Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy

Editor: Verity Wilde