Hungary has announced that it will pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision was shared by the government on Thursday, just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his state visit to Hungary.
"Gergely Gulyás, who serves as the chief of staff for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, stated that 'the government will commence the withdrawal process on Thursday, adhering to both the constitutional and international legal standards,'" he explained.
The ICC has faced increasing controversy in recent years, in particular because of the arrest warrants issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister of Israel landed in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city, on Wednesday. This visit took place even though he has an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued due to his actions during the conflict in Gaza.
Gulyás condemned the ICC for allegedly straying from its initial objective and transforming into a "politically motivated organization," referencing the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu as an example.
He contended that because Hungary has not incorporated the ICC's foundational 1998 Rome Statute into its local legislation, the tribunal's arrest orders cannot be enforced within the nation.
Gulyás pointed out that none of the world's leading military powers have ever been part of the ICC, and noted that the United States has even levied sanctions against the organization.
Gulyás also referred to Poland, where Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated in January that Netanyahu would not face arrest during his visit to an Auschwitz memorial event, even though there was an ICC warrant out for him.
Released in November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant stated that there were grounds to suspect Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of employing "hunger as a weapon of war" by limiting humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. It also alleged they deliberately attacked civilians during Israel’s operations against Hamas—a claim denied by Israeli authorities.
Following the issuance of the warrant, Orbán extended an invitation to Netanyahu for a state visit and criticized the ICC, stating they were "meddling in an active dispute for political reasons." He argued that this action compromised international law and intensified global strains.
The initial nation to withdraw from the ICC was Burundi, which did so in 2017. Both South Africa and The Gambia had considered leaving but later rescinded or paused those intentions. Each of these three nations argues that the court exhibits bias towards African countries.
In 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the court; however, their ex-president, Rodrigo Duterte, is presently incarcerated and undergoing legal proceedings related to murder allegations connected with his well-known "war on drugs" campaign.
