International Criminal Court moves annual assembly to The Hague

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that its 25th session of the Assembly of States Parties will be moved from the United Nations headquarters in New York to The Hague. The meeting, originally scheduled for November 30 to December 7, 2026, was relocated following consultations with member states due to concerns regarding participation.

The decision stems from United States sanctions and visa restrictions that could hinder the attendance of ICC officials and various non-governmental organizations. Specifically, the court noted that elected officials, including ICC President Tomoko Akane, are subject to U.S. sanctions.

These tensions follow the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The United States, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, has actively opposed the court's jurisdiction and implemented executive orders to restrict entry for ICC officials.