Hungary’s government has confirmed its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently the subject of an ICC arrest warrant.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Gergely Gulyas, the chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, announced that the withdrawal process would begin on Thursday, in line with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal obligations.
Orban, who had hinted at the move in February following US sanctions imposed on the ICC, stated that Hungary was leaving the court due to what he described as its increasing politicization, specifically referencing the ICC’s stance on Israel.
The withdrawal proposal is expected to pass in Hungary’s parliament, where Orban’s Fidesz party holds a majority.
In response, the governing body of the ICC expressed regret over Hungary’s decision, emphasizing that such actions undermine the global effort for justice.
“When a State Party withdraws from the Rome Statute, it clouds our shared quest for justice and weakens our resolve to fight impunity,” the ICC’s Assembly of State Parties stated.
