Hungary has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing concerns over its perceived “political bias.” The move comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary for a state visit, amidst ICC arrest warrants issued against him and other Israeli officials.
In November, ICC judges found Netanyahu guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 2023 Gaza conflict. Netanyahu has denied these allegations, calling the ICC’s decision “antisemitic.”
Hungary was a founding member of the ICC but will be the first European Union nation to leave it. The country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban asserted that the ICC had become a “political court” and that Hungary’s withdrawal is a response to its perceived bias.
Netanyahu welcomed Hungary’s decision, calling it “bold and principled.” He accused the ICC of being “corrupt” and said that Hungary’s move would “stand up to this corrupt organization.”
Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC does not significantly alter the court’s operational capacity or legal framework. However, it may set a precedent for other nations to question or abandon their commitments to international justice based on political alliances or disagreements with specific rulings.
The US, Russia, China, and North Korea are among the nations that do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. Israel is also not part of the treaty, but the ICC ruled in 2021 that it does have jurisdiction over the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
Netanyahu will visit several European countries during his trip, including Hungary, Germany, and others. His visit comes amid tensions over the Gaza conflict, which has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c807lm2003zo