7 h. ago As Orbán quits the ICC, other nations have a choice to make: do we back the rule of law or not? | Steve Crawshaw

There is a principle that even the most powerful leaders must be accountable. Increasingly, that is under threat, but it must be defendedIt was unsurprising that Benjamin Netanyahu praised Viktor Orbán’s “bold and principled” stand, in response to Hungary’s announcement yesterday that it will leave the international criminal court (ICC). More dismaying is that too few governments seem ready to stand up against impunity at a time when, because of Donald Trump, the very existence of the Hague court is under threat.Hungary’s leader described the ICC as “a political forum”; the Israeli prime minister, during his defiant visit to Budapest this week, complained of a “corrupt organisation”. That is all logical enough. Four months ago, the court confirmed an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He could hardly be expected to praise his own indictment.Steve Crawshaw is the author of Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice. H...

Politics

10 h. ago What is the International Criminal Court and how can a member country like Hungary leave?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced his intention to withdraw his country from the International Criminal Court

Events

25 h. ago Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dodges war crimes arrest in Hungary visit

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban quits International Criminal Court, refusing to allow arrest of Israeli leader wanted on war crimes accusations because he says it is an unfair 'political' tribunal

Events

36 h. ago Hungary dramatically quits the International Criminal Court and vows not to arrest Netanyahu during his Budapest visit despite ICC's war crimes arrest warrant

Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and refuse to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu despite the organisation issuing a warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister.

Events

38 h. ago Hungary to withdraw from International Criminal Court as it hosts Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in Hungary on Thursday

Events

38 h. ago Qatargate: Israel shocked as Benjamin Netanyahu rocked by latest scandal

Netanyahu has slammed the probe as a political witch hunt

Politics

39 h. ago Israeli strikes on Gaza overnight leaves more than 50 Palestinians dead

A fresh wave of Israeli strikes overnight has left more than 50 people dead across the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said

Events

42 h. ago Netanyahu to visit Hungary as Orbán vows to defy ICC arrest warrant

Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would ‘have no effect’Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin a four-day official visit to Hungary on Thursday, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would “guarantee” the ICC’s ruling would “have no effect in Hungary”. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago Netanyahu visits Hungary as Orbán vows to defy ICC arrest warrant

Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would ‘have no effect’Benjamin Netanyahu has begun a four-day official visit to Hungary, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would “guarantee” the ICC’s ruling would “have no effect in Hungary”. Continue reading...

Events

63 h. ago Israel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Gaza – latest updates

Defence minister Israel Katz says large areas of the territory will be seized and added to the security zones of IsraelAirstrikes continued on Gaza on Wednesday morning after the Israeli defense minister announced that Israel intended to expand its war. In a statement, Israel Katz said the offensive was “expanding to crush and clean the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and capture large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel.”The move has been condemned by the Hostages Families Forum, who said it appeared that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were making the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas “a secondary task” that had been “pushed to the bottom of the priority list.”I wish success to the IDF soldiers who are fighting bravely and powerfully in Gaza for the return of the kidnapped and the defeat of Hamas. The goal of Operation “Strength and Sword” is first and foremost to increase pressure for the release of all the hostage...

Politics

4 d. ago Middle East latest: Israel prepares to move deeper into Gaza and issues new evacuation orders

The Israeli military has indicated it could soon launch another major offensive in Rafah and ordered most of the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip evacuated

Politics

8 d. ago Israel parliament defies protests to pass law tightening grip over judges

Opposition parties say political control of appointments will make judges subject to politicians and undermine democracyIsrael’s parliament has passed a law expanding elected officials’ power to appoint judges, in defiance of a years-long protest against Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to drive through judicial changes.The approval of the bill, which opposition parties say will make judges subject to the will of politicians, comes as Netanyahu’s government is locked in a standoff with the supreme court over its attempts to dismiss the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara and Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security agency. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Palestinian death toll rises as Benjamin Netanyahu under fire from Israelis

More than two dozen Gazans were killed in just 24 hours as Israel shows no let-up in attacks, also opening fire on Hezbollah in Lebnaon and targets in Syria as the Middle East conflict continues

Events

8 d. ago Israeli politicians sign letter urging Australian MPs to dump two

Letter from Knesset members addressed to Queensland LNP backbencher Andrew Wallace was distributed at event he hosted, attended by several Coalition MPs and senatorsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA handful of Israeli politicians, including one within Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, have urged Coalition MPs to dump Australia’s longstanding two-state policy on Israel and Palestine ahead of the upcoming federal election.They claim that maintaining the policy would reward Hamas and destroy Israel.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump wants a Nobel peace prize. Here’s how he can earn one | Ken Roth

We must persuade Trump to do the right thing – securing peace in the Middle East – for the wrong reasonDonald Trump’s instinctive deference to the Israeli government is at odds with his self-image as an expert dealmaker. Much as it may seem laughable that the president wants the Nobel peace prize, his quest may be the best chance we have for securing any US government regard for the rights and lives of Palestinians in Gaza.Trump currently seems to endorse the strategy of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of trying to pummel Hamas into accepting defeat. To force Hamas to release its remaining hostages and to disband its diminished military force, Netanyahu has resumed Israel’s strategy of starving and bombing Palestinian civilians. In less than a week, about 600 Palestinians have already been killed. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump wants a Nobel peace prize. Here’s how he can earn one | Kenneth Roth

We must persuade Trump to do the right thing – securing peace in the Middle East – for the wrong reasonDonald Trump’s instinctive deference to the Israeli government is at odds with his self-image as an expert dealmaker. Much as it may seem laughable that the president wants the Nobel peace prize, his quest may be the best chance we have for securing any US government regard for the rights and lives of Palestinians in Gaza.Trump currently seems to endorse the strategy of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of trying to pummel Hamas into accepting defeat. To force Hamas to release its remaining hostages and to disband its diminished military force, Netanyahu has resumed Israel’s strategy of starving and bombing Palestinian civilians. In less than a week, about 600 Palestinians have already been killed. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Israeli legislators pass state budget in a move that shores up Netanyahu's government

Israel’s parliament has passed a state budget in a move that shores up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition

Politics

1 week ago Israel’s political crisis deepens after vote against attorney

Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet withdraws confidence in Gali Baharav-Miara

Politics

1 week ago As Israeli bombs fell, wounded children overwhelmed this Gaza hospital. Dozens died

When Israel unleashed a wave of bombardment this week, shattering Gaza's ceasefire, a hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis was overwhelmed with wounded children

Events

2 w. ago Israel orders army to ‘seize more ground’ in Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages

Call from defence minister comes as Supreme Court freezes Benjamin Netanyahu’s sacking of the domestic intelligence chief

Politics