The International Criminal Court (ICC) is intensifying its investigations into war crimes amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Karim Khan, the ICC's lead prosecutor, recently visited Ukraine, where he condemned the Russian Federation for targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including a children's hospital in Okemnet that was struck by a missile. Khan emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the court is committed to investigating a range of alleged war crimes, particularly those affecting innocent civilians.

Khan's visit comes on the heels of his indictment of Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023. He indicated that the ICC would continue to gather evidence and potentially amend the indictment to include new findings related to ongoing atrocities. He expressed disappointment over Mongolia's failure to execute an arrest warrant for Putin during his recent visit, noting that the ICC judges are reviewing the situation.

Turning to the conflict in Gaza, Khan has called for urgent action from the ICC regarding arrest warrants for Hamas leaders and Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians are suffering from violence and lack of basic necessities. Khan's comments followed Netanyahu's criticism of the ICC's actions, which the Israeli leader labeled as anti-Semitic. Khan defended the court's impartiality, asserting that no one is above the law and that the ICC's role is to uphold justice.

Khan confirmed that the ICC is also investigating actions by Hamas, including the execution of hostages and attacks on civilian targets in Israel. He reiterated the court's commitment to ensuring that all parties involved in the conflict adhere to international law, emphasizing that the ICC will pursue justice for victims on both sides of the conflict.