Hungary Announces Withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) During Netanyahu's Visit

Hungary Announces Withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) During Netanyahu's Visit

Hungary's government has announced that it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move was revealed by a senior official of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is being sought by the ICC under an arrest warrant, arrived in Hungary for a state visit.

In November, ICC judges stated that Netanyahu could likely be held responsible for "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu has described the ICC's decision as "anti-Semitic."

Hungary is a founding member of the ICC, which consists of 125 member states, and it will become the first European Union country to withdraw from the court.

Orbán Government’s Allegations

Hungary's Chief Official Gergely Gulyás told the state news agency MTI that while the ICC was once a "respectable initiative," it had deviated from its original purpose and turned into a political body. He stated that the arrest warrant against Netanyahu is unacceptable and that Hungary no longer wishes to be involved with the court’s work.

Israel and Hungary’s Relationship

Israel thanked Hungary for this move, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posting: "The 'International Criminal Court' that has violated international law and seeks to harm Israel's right to self-defense has now lost its moral authority."

Responses from ICC Member States

Several countries around the world, such as the United States, Russia, China, and North Korea, are not members of the ICC and do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction. Israel is also not a member of the ICC, but in 2021, the court announced that its jurisdiction applies to the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

Hungary’s Withdrawal Process

Hungary will now send a written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, this decision will take effect one year later.

Netanyahu, who is visiting Hungary for the first time since the arrest warrant was issued, was welcomed at the airport by Hungary's Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.

This move has sparked new debates in the global political and legal spheres and is considered a significant moment in the relationship between Israel and Hungary.