Hungary, a founding member of the International Criminal Court, exited the court on Netanyahu’s visit
The Hungarian government has decided to evacuate from the International Criminal Court, which said Thursday it arrived in the country for a state visit shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu sought an ICC arrest warrant.
Right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited his Israeli counterpart to Budapest in November, an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel attacked Israeli attacks on Israel in Hamas-led southern Israeli attacks. Hungary is a founding member of the ICC.
Israel rejected the allegations, saying it was driven by political motivation and anti-Semitism. It said the International Criminal Court lost all legitimacy by issuing arrest warrants against leaders of democratic elections in countries that exercise their right to self-defense.
As a founding member, Hungary was theoretically obliged to arrest and hand over anyone under a judicial arrest warrant, but Orban made it clear that Hungary would not respect the ruling, which he called “rude, cynical, cynical, and totally unacceptable.”
Hungary signed the founding document of the ICC in 1999 and approved the document in 2001, but the law has not yet been enacted.
Orban’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said in November that despite Hungary’s approval of Roman regulations, it “has never been part of Hungarian law”, meaning that court measures cannot be enforced within Hungary.
On Thursday, Gulyas told the National News Agency that the government would initiate the withdrawal process later that day.
Hungary raises prospects for ICC withdrawal after U.S. sanctions
Orban raised the prospect of Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on court prosecutor Karim Khan in February.
“It’s time for Hungary to review what we’re doing in international organizations that U.S. sanctions,” Orban said on X in February.
The bill for the long-term process withdrawal from the ICC may be approved by the Hungarian Parliament, which is led by Orban’s Fidesz party.
The Netherlands, who chairs the International Criminal Court, said Hungary must perform its duties before the withdrawal is completed.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told reporters while watching a NATO meeting in Brussels.
Netanyahu has gained strong support from Hungary Orban, a major ally who is willing to block EU statements or actions that the EU has criticized Israel in the past.
The International Criminal Court judge said when they issued the arrest warrant, there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and his former defense minister were responsible for criminal acts, including murder, persecution and starvation, as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systemic attack on civilians in Gaza.”
According to Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli movement killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and destroyed the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Soors, on October 7, 2023, an Israeli Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people and more than 250 people took hostages.
The International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant against Hamas leaders in November. His death was confirmed after the warrant was issued.
