Hungary’s government has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Budapest for a state visit. The decision, made by right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is seen as a response to the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
Israel has rejected the accusations, calling them politically motivated and fueled by antisemitism. Netanyahu’s office says that the ICC has lost legitimacy by issuing warrants against a democratically elected leader who is exercising his right to self-defense.
Hungary signed the ICC’s founding document in 1999 but never ratified it as law, citing a lack of promulgation. The country had raised the prospect of exiting the ICC after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court’s prosecutor Karim Khan in February.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry has stated that Hungary must comply with its ICC obligations until withdrawal is complete, which is expected to take about a year. Netanyahu’s visit has been seen as an opportunity for Orban to strengthen ties with his Israeli counterpart and block EU criticism of Israel.
The ICC had issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his former defense chief due to allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel launched its offensive following an attack by Hamas-led fighters on southern Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 50,000 Palestinian deaths reported according to Palestinian health authorities.
Netanyahu’s visit marks a significant moment in the complex relationship between Hungary and the ICC, as well as its ties with Israel.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/hungary-says-it-is-withdrawing-icc-israeli-leader-visits-2025-04-03