Hungary has withdrawn from the International Criminal Court, becoming the first EU member state to do so, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the country.
Netanyahu is subject to an international arrest warrant issued by the ICC in November 2024 and stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges that Budapest has previously blasted as being “absurd.”
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, invited the Israeli premier to visit just a day after the warrant was issued, promising that it would “have no effect” in his country.
Hungary’s decision to leave the ICC was announced by Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás.
According to Gulyás, Hungary will officially initiate the year-long withdrawal process later on Thursday.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has commended the decision. Writing on X, Sa’ar said: “The so-called International Criminal Court lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel's right to self-defense.”
He added: “Thank you, Viktor Orbán and thank you Hungary for your clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.”
Netanyahu’s visit has been panned by human rights groups who had called on Hungary to arrest the Israeli prime minister.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts,” said Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International.
She added: “Hungary’s invitation shows contempt for international law and confirms that alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC are welcome on the streets of a European Union member state.”
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, invited the Israeli premier to visit just a day after the warrant was issued, promising that it would “have no effect” in his country.
Hungary’s decision to leave the ICC was announced by Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás.
According to Gulyás, Hungary will officially initiate the year-long withdrawal process later on Thursday.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has commended the decision. Writing on X, Sa’ar said: “The so-called International Criminal Court lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel's right to self-defense.”
He added: “Thank you, Viktor Orbán and thank you Hungary for your clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.”
Hungary is a founding member of the ICC and becomes the first EU member state to withdraw from the court. Israel, along with the U.S., Russia and China, are non-signatories.🇭🇺🇮🇱 Prime Minister @netanyahu in Budapest, the safest place in Europe. Welcome to Hungary, Prime Minister! pic.twitter.com/GI1cjGj6X1
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) April 3, 2025
Netanyahu’s visit has been panned by human rights groups who had called on Hungary to arrest the Israeli prime minister.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts,” said Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International.
She added: “Hungary’s invitation shows contempt for international law and confirms that alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC are welcome on the streets of a European Union member state.”
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