BUDAPEST, Hungary — On Thursday, it was announced that Hungary has decided to start the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the only enduring global tribunal dedicated to investigating war crimes and genocide.
Gergely Gulyás, the chief of staff for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, stated, “Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court.” He noted that the government plans to begin the withdrawal proceedings in line with constitutional and international legal guidelines.
This declaration coincided with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest. Netanyahu’s visit is significant because an international arrest warrant has been issued against him concerning his actions during the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The Hungarian government, led by the right-wing populist Viktor Orbán, invited Netanyahu in November. This invitation followed the issuance of the warrant by the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The court has accused Netanyahu of committing crimes against humanity.
Orbán, who is an ally of Netanyahu, criticized the arrest warrant, describing it as “outrageously impudent” and “cynical.” While ICC member states like Hungary are obligated to arrest individuals named in warrants should they appear within their borders, the ICC depends on these nations to enforce its directives as it does not have its own enforcement mechanisms.