Hungary has declared its intention to terminate its involvement with the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.), a move that coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Budapest, where he faces an international arrest warrant.
Hungary Announces Withdrawal from International Criminal Court Amid Netanyahu's Visit
Hungary Announces Withdrawal from International Criminal Court Amid Netanyahu's Visit
Hungary's decision to withdraw comes shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival, despite facing a warrant for his arrest.
On Thursday, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that the country would step away from the International Criminal Court, a resolution made public just after the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest, who is currently under an international arrest warrant. Despite being a party to the I.C.C. treaty established in 1998, Hungary has signaled that it will disregard its legal responsibility to act on the warrant.
Welcoming Netanyahu at Buda Castle with military honors, Hungary's leadership instead opted for a show of support. Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, took to Facebook to confirm that the country would initiate the withdrawal process in line with constitutional and international legal frameworks. The I.C.C. had issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in November, accusing them of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
This story is still evolving, and updates will follow as new information becomes available.
