International Court of Justice

Rule Changes

Issued landmark advisory opinion on illegality of prolonged occupation and settlements

Israel's cabinet quietly signed off on 19 additional Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, then kept it classified for days. Some are brand-new recognitions; others are outposts that were illegal even under Israeli rules, now getting a state stamp. Within weeks, the government went further: issuing construction tenders for the E1 corridor that would physically sever the northern and southern West Bank, legalizing five more outposts with official settlement codes, and advancing plans for 9,000 units in occupied East Jerusalem.

Updated Feb 16

Force in Play

Adjudicating South Africa's genocide case against Israel

South Africa and Israel have expelled each other's top diplomats, leaving neither country with a senior representative in the other. On January 30, 2026, South Africa declared Israeli chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata for using embassy social media to insult President Cyril Ramaphosa. Hours later, Israel reciprocated by expelling South Africa's chargé d'affaires Shaun Byneveldt. Both were ordered to leave within 72 hours.

Updated Feb 1

Rule Changes

Hearing merits of genocide case

The Gambia—population 2.5 million, no direct ties to Myanmar—is prosecuting one of history's most ambitious genocide cases. On January 12, 2026, the International Court of Justice opened three weeks of hearings on whether Myanmar's military deliberately tried to destroy the Rohingya people. The Gambia's legal team, led by Justice Minister Dawda Jallow and British barrister Philippe Sands, told judges 'the only reasonable conclusion is that a genocidal intent permeated Myanmar's state-led actions.' Myanmar called the allegations 'flawed and unfounded.' It's the first full genocide trial at the world court since Serbia was held accountable for Srebrenica in 2007.

Updated Jan 14

Force in Play

Previously ruled on Preah Vihear, jurisdiction contested

A Cambodian soldier died in a border firefight on May 28. Within two months, the countries were exchanging artillery fire and airstrikes across a dozen locations. Three ceasefires later—brokered by Malaysia, pressured by Trump, witnessed by ASEAN—over 100 people are dead and a million displaced. The latest truce, signed December 27, holds the same promise as the ones before it.

Updated Dec 28, 2025