Hungary announced today (03.04.2025) that it is leaving the International Criminal Court as part of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest for talks with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban.
Although Hungary is a founding member of the International Criminal Court, the Victor Orban government has announced the launch of its retirement proceedings from this permanent judicial body responsible for the criminal prosecution of persons for crimes of genocide, crimes against other crimes.
OR Announcement of leaving came on the occasion of the first day of the visit to Budapest by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against which a warrant has been issued by the court.
«Hungary leaves the IFRS »: The government’s announcement came as Netanyahu was walking on the red carpet that his long -time ally was put on, Victor Orban, welcoming the Israeli prime minister at the Castle of the Buddha at military prices.
THE Right populist Hungary Prime Minister had invited his Israeli counterpart to visit Budapest in November 2024one day after issuing the arrest warrant against him as a suspect for war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Israel rejected the categories as ‘Politically moving’ and fueled by ‘anti -Semitism’.
Hungary’s announcement
Hungarian Prime Minister argued that His ruling is based on the fact that the Court is making decisions of a political nature. It is about “A political court, which has lost his impartiality, as decisions against Israel have shown.”he said.
«You got a brave attitude and attitude of the beginning and thank you, Victor“, The Israeli prime minister said at a press conference next to Orban, welcoming the decision to withdraw Hungary from the ICC.
Hungary is withdrawing from the @IntlCrimCourt.
The ICC has become a political tribunal, evident in its witch-hunt against Prime Minister @netanyahu. We will not support a court that targets democracies like Israel for political gain. Hungary defends the rule of law. Hungary… pic.twitter.com/gMc57m332D
– Viktor Orban (@pm_viktoror) April 3, 2025
THE Netanyahu praised Orban for his movement “to stand up to this corrupt organization”which “targets us (Israel) while we are firming a fair war,” he added, predicting that other countries will leave the ICC.
Thanks also came from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar who praised Orban’s Hungary for her “strong moral attitude” with this departure.
“Thank you, Prime Minister Victor Orban and thank Hungary for her clear and strong moral attitude to Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty!” Saar stressed in a post, criticizing the ICC for “his willingness to undermine Israel’s right to self -defense”.
Reuters / Bernadett Szabo
As a founding member of the International Criminal Court, Hungary would have to capture Netanyahu with his entry into Hungarian territory and to deliver him. Budapest, however, had made it clear that he was not going to apply the decision of Court which he characterized ‘Shameless, cynical and Completely unacceptable. “
The members of the ICC
OR Hungary signed the founding of the International Criminal Court in 1999, ratified the 2001, But her involvement in the ICT has never become a state law.
Orban had preceded Hungary’s exit from the International Criminal Court, when Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Karim Khan’s Attorney General in February. Then the Hungarian Prime Minister had stated that ‘It is time for Hungary to review what it is doing to an international organization that is under US sanctions. “
Reuters / Bernadett Szabo
After issuing the arrest warrant in November 2024, Netanyahu visited the US earlier this year, but had not visited to date, no Member State under the jurisdiction of the ICC.
The ICT, which was founded in 2002, It now has 125 members and is in charge of prosecuting the most serious crimes in the worldwhen countries do not want or cannot do so themselves. The USA and the Russia is not a member of the court, nor the Israel, or China or the Myanmar.
To date, Only two states left the courtthe Burudy and the Philippines.
In spite of the announced withdrawal of Hungary, The court “reiterated that Hungary remains obliged to cooperate”according to ICT spokesman Fandy El Abdalla until the departure process is completed, which lasts about a year.