Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the government announced following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest. This move comes after Netanyahu’s first European trip since the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him in May 2024.
The ICC had stated it had “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu was criminally responsible for war crimes, including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”
The ICC does not have its own enforcement powers, relying on member states to execute arrests and transfer suspects to The Hague. As a signatory, Hungary is obligated to arrest Netanyahu.
If Hungary proceeds with its withdrawal from the ICC, it will become the only European Union country not part of the court. Israel is not a member of the ICC, nor are countries like the United States, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
