Hungary has declared its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as announced by the government. This decision comes shortly after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted under an ICC arrest warrant, visited Hungary for a state visit. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government confirmed the withdrawal, stating that the ICC ruling against Netanyahu would have no effect in Hungary. The ICC had accused Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, prompting Hungary to withdraw from the court. Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s decision as antisemitic.
Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC, despite being a founding member, aligns with Prime Minister Orban’s foreign policy stance. Orban criticized the ICC as a „political court“ during a press conference and emphasized that the court’s decision against Netanyahu demonstrated its biased nature. Israel praised Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, with Netanyahu calling it a bold move against a corrupt organization.
The withdrawal process requires Hungary to formally notify the UN Secretary General, with the withdrawal taking effect one year later. The ICC spokesman reiterated that Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the court, even after the withdrawal announcement. While some European countries indicated they would arrest Netanyahu under the ICC warrant, Hungary’s decision to withdraw may set a precedent for other nations to question their commitments to international justice.
Despite Hungary’s withdrawal, the ICC continues to function with broad international support. The US, Russia, China, and North Korea are among the nations that do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. Israel also does not belong to the ICC treaty but is subject to its jurisdiction over certain territories. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has further complicated the ICC’s role in addressing international crimes. Seitdem sind mehr als 50,000 Palästinenser bei israelischen Militärangriffen getötet worden, sagen Gesundheitsbehörden im von Hamas regierten Gaza.