Netanyahu praises Hungary for cutting ties with ICC, calls court "corrupt"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has commended Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his government’s decision to cease cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking at a press conference in Budapest following their meeting, Netanyahu described the ICC as a “corrupt organization” that unfairly targets Israel while ignoring the actions of its adversaries, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"You have just taken a bold and principled stance on the ICC, and I thank you, Viktor. This is important not only for us but for all democracies. It is essential to stand up to this corrupt organization, which equates a democracy fighting for its very survival against the most horrific terrorist forces on Earth with the terrorists themselves," Netanyahu stated. He accused the ICC of directing its actions against Israel, which he claimed was conducting a "just war with just means," rather than against those responsible for acts of terror.

The Hungarian government officially announced its withdrawal from ICC cooperation on April 3. Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyás stated that Budapest views the court as highly politicized, arguing that it has shifted from a judicial body to a political institution. He claimed that the ICC had deviated from its original mandate, allowing politics to overshadow legal proceedings.

Hungary’s announcement coincided with Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest, where he received strong support from Orbán’s government, particularly in his stance against Hamas. In November 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories. Orbán strongly rejected the warrant, calling it “absurd and shameful,” and assured Netanyahu that Hungary would not enforce it.

However, Hungary’s decision drew sharp criticism from Germany. Acting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock denounced Budapest’s stance, calling it a setback for international justice.

"This is a bad day for international criminal law," Baerbock said upon arriving at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting. She emphasized that all European Union member states are bound by the Rome Statute, which underpins the ICC’s authority.

"I have consistently made it clear that in Europe, no one is above the law. This applies to all areas of law," she added.

Despite Germany’s official support for the ICC, Acting Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that he did not foresee Netanyahu being arrested should he visit Germany, adding further complexity to the European response to the case.

By Tamilla Hasanova