Hungary Withdraws from the International Criminal Court Amid Netanyahu’s Visit to Budapest
The Hungarian government announced today, Thursday, the initiation of procedures to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), coinciding with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest, despite the arrest warrant issued against him.
Government spokesman Zoltán Kovács stated that the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Gergely Gulyás, confirmed the government’s decision to withdraw from the ICC. He explained that the withdrawal process would begin on Thursday in accordance with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal obligations.
Israeli Welcome for Hungary’s Withdrawal
Israel welcomed Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC on the same day that Netanyahu arrived in Budapest.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the decision in a post on X, describing it as highly significant.
He also noted that he had extensively discussed the matter with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, arguing that the ICC had lost its moral authority after violating fundamental principles of international law in its attempt to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense.
Double Standards
Meanwhile, the Hamas movement strongly condemned Hungary’s decision, calling it collusion with the Israeli prime minister, who is evading justice, and a blatant violation of international law that poses a direct threat to global peace and stability.
Hamas asserted that Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC is a blow to the principle of international justice and an embodiment of double standards, emphasizing that this decision undermines the international judicial system and encourages impunity.
Netanyahu’s Visit to Hungary
Netanyahu arrived in Hungary early Thursday for a four-day visit, marking his first trip to a European country since the issuance of his arrest warrant—a direct challenge by both him and Budapest to the ICC.
It is worth noting that the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, accusing them of grave violations of human rights and crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
