Hungary has revealed plans to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), synchronised with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting Budapest. PM Netanyahu has an ICC arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza. The action is a cause for concern regarding Hungary’s adherence to international justice and its increasing alignment with Israel.
Hungary’s Exit and the ICC’s Arrest Warrant
Hungary’s State Secretary for International Communication, Zoltan Kovacs, earlier confirmed the country will initiate the ICC withdrawal procedure on Thursday. If completed, Hungary will become the sole member state of the European Union which is not part of the ICC, a court founded by the Rome Statute in 2002 to try war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This move comes as Netanyahu’s first foreign trip in years after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him in May 2024. The court had charged him with war crimes such as “starvation as a method of warfare” and crimes against humanity. According to the Rome Statute, Hungary being an ICC signatory was duty-bound to arrest Netanyahu. Rather, he got a red-carpet welcome from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The European Union is still divided on Netanyahu’s legal status. While Spain and Ireland have threatened to arrest him if he enters their countries, others such as France and Germany have challenged the court’s authority over Israel since it is not a member of the ICC. Hungary’s decision now eliminates any doubt about where it stands, strongly supporting Netanyahu.
Hungary’s Pro-Israel Stance and Political Implications
Hungary has always stood as one of Israel’s most robust European supporters. Hungarians favor Israel, as evidenced by Budapest’s public displays of support, such as posters and stickers remembering victims of Hamas’ October 7 attack. Hungary has also opposed EU sanctions against Israel and vetoes resolutions criticizing its Gaza war.
Orban’s invitation of Netanyahu in the face of the ICC warrant showcases his government’s open defiance of international norms. Critics claim Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC constitutes a pullback from global systems of accountability and emboldens authoritarian forces within the country.
As geopolitical tensions mount, Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC will fuel controversies surrounding justice, international law, and alliances in an evolving world order.
