In a move that has sparked significant international debate, Hungary has officially announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The announcement coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest, raising speculation about the motivations behind this abrupt decision.
Gergely Gulyás, Chief of Staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, made the announcement, stating that the withdrawal process would be initiated in line with constitutional and international legal procedures. Gulyás emphasized that the decision was based on concerns over the ICC’s perceived politicization and bias in handling international cases.
Prime Minister Orbán has long been critical of the ICC, but the latest move comes just weeks after the court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The ICC’s decision was met with widespread criticism from Israel and its allies, who argue that the court is unfairly targeting Israeli officials while ignoring other global conflicts.
Orbán denounced the warrants as "outrageous and politically motivated," aligning his stance with Netanyahu’s government. He further stated that Hungary "cannot remain part of an institution that selectively enforces justice based on political convenience rather than genuine legal principles."
Hungary’s departure from the ICC marks a significant shift in its international legal commitments and is expected to further strain relations between Budapest and the European Union. The EU has repeatedly clashed with Hungary over issues related to democratic backsliding, judicial independence, and foreign policy alignments that often diverge from the broader European stance.
Netanyahu, during his visit, expressed gratitude for Hungary’s unwavering support of Israel, commending Orbán for taking a stand against what he described as "biased international institutions." The Israeli Prime Minister has been actively seeking diplomatic backing from allies to challenge the legitimacy of the ICC’s charges against him and his defense officials.