Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s office confirmed on Thursday, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s multiday visit to Budapest. Netanyahu is facing an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The Netherlands-based court issued a warrant for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November, citing evidence of “starvation as a method of warfare” and deliberate targeting of civilians by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel has denied the allegations.
Hungary’s move marks a rare rebuke of the ICC from within its own membership, further isolating itself from much of the European Union on issues of the rule of law and international justice. Both Netanyahu and Orban are aligned with a broader anti-institutional movement led by US President Donald Trump.
Under the Rome Statute, ICC member states are required to arrest individuals subject to ICC warrants if they enter their territory. Despite its obligation as an ICC member, Hungary chose to host Netanyahu despite announcing its withdrawal from the court. The decision underscores Budapest’s challenge to international institutions and raises concerns about impunity.
Critics of Hungary’s decision say it invites impunity and invites alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC to walk free. Critics of the move include Amnesty International head Erika Guevara-Rosas, who called it “a contempt for international law,” and Human Rights Watch’s Liz Evenson, who described it as an “affront to victims of serious crimes.”
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/hungary-quits-international-criminal-court-netanyahu-welcomed-2054754