Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), sparking international debate. This decision aligns with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest. Netanyahu is currently under an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized the warrant, labeling it "completely unacceptable," and expressed support for Netanyahu in the ongoing conflict against Hamas.
The visit saw Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcoming Netanyahu at the airport, followed by discussions with Orban. Hungary has also blocked EU resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where recent conflicts have led to significant casualties following an attack by Hamas.
Despite ratifying the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2001, Hungary has never fully embraced its obligations, citing constitutional concerns. The withdrawal process from the ICC is expected to take a year to finalize. If completed, Hungary would become the only EU member not participating in the ICC.
Netanyahu praised Hungary's decision, describing the ICC as "corrupt," and framed Hungary's actions as significant for democracies worldwide. Meanwhile, international figures, including Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed skepticism about enforcing the ICC arrest warrant, with Scholz noting the unlikelihood of arresting Netanyahu if he visited Germany. This move by Hungary has been criticized as undermining international law, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calling it a "bad day for international criminal law." The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics and differing national stances on international justice.
