Hungary to begin exit from International Criminal Court amid Netanyahu visit
Hungary has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, with the procedure set to begin on Thursday, as announced by Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister's office. This decision coincides with the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to Budapest.
The Hungarian government's decision to exit the International Criminal Court (ICC) was confirmed by Gergely Gulyas. The procedure for leaving this institution is scheduled to commence on Thursday. This announcement was made on the day of Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival in Budapest. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for him.
The government will initiate the termination procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal frameworks, Gulyas stated in an interview with the MTI news agency, referring to the ICC's founding document, the Rome Statute.
A few hours before Hungary announced its decision to leave the ICC, Benjamin Netanyahu landed in the country, led by Viktor Orban, on an official state visit. The Israeli Prime Minister is being pursued by the ICC on charges of war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Orban has repeatedly assured that Netanyahu can feel safe in Hungary, particularly as the country has not ratified the Rome Statute due to its being deemed unconstitutional.
The first indications that Hungary intended to withdraw from the ICC emerged in February. At the time, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that Hungary would reconsider its involvement with the institution. He also commented that, in his opinion, the institution operates with a political bias.
The procedure for leaving the ICC
The process of Hungary's withdrawal from the ICC will unfold as follows. Initially, a bill will be presented to parliament. If the majority supports it, the formal procedure for exiting the Tribunal, led by the Hungarian government, will commence. The entire process may take up to a year.
Donald Trump also introduced sanctions targeting the Tribunal and individuals involved in supporting its efforts to prosecute American citizens, as well as officials from Israel and other allied nations.
