It is with great sadness that the Court announces the passing of Stephen M. Schwebel on 9 April 2026 in New York. Mr Schwebel was a Member of the Court from 1981 to 2000. He served as President from 1997 to 2000 and as Vice-President from 1994 to 1997.

The International Court of Justice will hold a solemn sitting on Friday 17 April 2026 at 3 p.m. in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of its inaugural session. 

On 9 April 2026, HE Mr Alar Karis, President of Estonia, and First Lady Ms Sirje Karis, accompanied by a delegation led by HE Mr Paul Teesalu, Ambassador of Estonia to the Netherlands, paid a visit to the Court. The discussions with HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, and HE M. Philippe Gautier, Registrar, touched on aspects of the history, functioning and activities of the Court. 

By an Order dated 19 March 2026 in the case concerning Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v. Honduras), and in accordance with Article 85, paragraph 1, of its Rules, the Court fixed 19 May 2026 and 20 July 2026 as the respective time-limits for the submission by Guatemala of a written statement, and for the submission of any written observations on that statement by the Parties. 

By a Judgment dated 19 March 2026, the Court granted Guatemala permission to intervene as a non-party in the case concerning Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v. Honduras).

On 12 March 2026, Namibia, the United States of America, Hungary and Fiji each filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

On 11 March 2026, the Netherlands and Iceland filed declarations of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). 

On 4 March 2026, diplomatic representatives accredited to the Netherlands attended information sessions on the work and activities of the International Court of Justice by HE Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the Court, and of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, by HE Mr Marcin Czepelak, Secretary-General of the PCA, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, seat of both institutions.

By an Order dated 25 February 2026, the Court authorized the submission of a Reply by Mexico and a Rejoinder by Ecuador. It fixed 25 August 2026 and 25 February 2027 as the respective time-limits for the filing of those written pleadings in the case concerning the Embassy of Mexico in Quito (Mexico v. Ecuador). 

By an Order dated 25 February 2026, the Court authorized the submission of a Reply by Ecuador and a Rejoinder by Mexico concerning the claims presented by the Parties in the Glas Espinel (Ecuador v. Mexico) case. It fixed 25 August 2026 and 25 February 2027 as the respective time-limits for the filing of those written pleadings.  

On 3 March 2026, Paraguay filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

By an Order dated 25 February 2026, the Court fixed 25 November 2026 and 25 August 2027 as the respective time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Counter-Memorial of the United States of America on the sole question of compensation due in the case concerning Certain Iranian Assets (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America).  

On 26 February 2026, Iceland filed a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, recognizing as compulsory the jurisdiction of the Court. 

On 6 February 2026, HE Ms Stefanie Hubig, Minister of Justice of Germany, accompanied by HE Mr Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Ambassador of Germany to the Netherlands, paid a courtesy visit to the Court. Ms Hubig was welcomed by Mr Jean-Pelé Fomété, Deputy-Registrar of the Court. During the visit, views were exchanged on the functioning and activities of the ICJ.

The Court announces the publication of I.C.J. Pleadings, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The four volumes of this publication contain the case file in the original language.

On 4 February 2026, HE Mr Andreas Bovenschulte, President of the Bundesrat, accompanied by HE Mr Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Ambassador of Germany to the Netherlands, and a delegation, visited the Court. During their visit, the members of the visiting delegation exchanged views with HE Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the Court, on the activities of the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and Mr Bovenschulte expressed his support to the Court. 

The public hearings on the merits of the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar: 11 States intervening), which opened on 12 January 2026, concluded on 29 January 2026.  The Court will now begin its deliberation. Its decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course.

On 23 December 2025, Belgium filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).