Hungary Announces Withdrawal from International Criminal Court Amid Netanyahu’s State Visit

Hungary confirmed its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, following a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest. This move, which will make Hungary the third nation to leave the Rome Statute, comes at a time of growing tension surrounding the ICC’s international role and its controversial arrest warrants.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, announced the government’s decision, stating that Hungary would begin the formal withdrawal process in accordance with both domestic constitutional procedures and international law.

The ICC has been at the center of global debates, particularly after issuing arrest warrants for high-profile leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu. These warrants have sparked accusations that the court has become a politicized institution, diverging from its original mandate of addressing international war crimes.

During his visit to Budapest, Netanyahu’s ongoing legal issues were raised, as he faces an arrest warrant from the ICC due to his role in the Gaza conflict. Gulyás criticized the ICC for its supposed politicization and argued that since Hungary never ratified the 1998 Rome Statute into its domestic law, the arrest warrants from the court are not enforceable within Hungary.

The withdrawal also comes amid broader concerns regarding the court’s credibility, particularly as several major military powers, including the United States, have never been members of the ICC, and the US has imposed sanctions on the organization.

With this announcement, Hungary joins Burundi and the Philippines as nations that have withdrawn from the ICC. The move further complicates the international legal landscape, raising questions about the future role of the ICC and its authority in pursuing justice for war crimes globally.