A panel of judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported Hungary to the court’s oversight body for its failure to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Budapest in April. The judges stated that this violation seriously undermines the court’s ability to deliver justice.
Judges: Hungary’s Non-Compliance “Seriously Undermines” ICC’s Mandate
According to The Times of Israel, in a document released late last night, the three-judge panel wrote that the “obligation to cooperate was quite clear for Hungary” and that its failure to arrest Netanyahu “seriously undermines the Court’s ability to carry out its mandate.”
The ICC has no police force and relies on member states to execute arrest warrants. The court’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, has limited powers to sanction Hungary, but the issue is expected to be reviewed at its annual meeting in December.
During Netanyahu’s visit, Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán defended his decision not to arrest him. Orbán, who critics consider an autocrat and the biggest obstacle to consensus within the EU, stated that his country’s commitment to the ICC was “half-hearted” and has initiated the process for Hungary’s withdrawal from the court.
