Hungary announces withdrawal from ICC as Netanyahu visits Budapest

Hungary's government announced that it will begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), coinciding with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest.

This marks the first time Netanyahu has set foot on European soil since the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him in May 2024, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The ICC warrant alleges that Netanyahu is criminally responsible for war crimes, including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” The court’s decision to issue the warrant was based on evidence that Netanyahu played a key role in actions during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Under the ICC's jurisdiction, member states are obligated to arrest individuals wanted by the court. Hungary, as a signatory of the Rome Statute, is required to comply with this obligation. However, Hungary’s State Secretary for International Communication and Relations, Zoltan Kovacs, confirmed that the country will initiate its withdrawal from the ICC on April 3, a decision in line with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal commitments.

If Hungary proceeds with its withdrawal, it will become the only European Union country to leave the court. Currently, Israel is not a signatory to the ICC, nor are other countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The ICC's warrant against Netanyahu follows its issuance of similar warrants against senior leaders of Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, all of whom have since been killed during the course of the war.

This marks a significant development, as Netanyahu becomes the first leader of a close US ally to face ICC prosecution, placing him in the company of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an arrest warrant over Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was facing an arrest warrant from the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his capture and killing in October 2011.

Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC has sparked international debate, particularly within the European Union, as it challenges the union's collective commitment to the court’s authority and its efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes.

By Vafa Guliyeva