Hungary Withdraws from ICC as Orbán Welcomes Netanyahu
World,Middle East,Hungary,Eastern Europe,Israel,Viktor Orban,Benjamin Netanyahu,European Union,International Criminal Court,Palestine
Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the head of the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Thursday. The announcement coincided with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest, where he is set to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Under the Rome Statute, which established the ICC in 2002, Netanyahu would technically be subject to arrest by Hungarian authorities, as an international warrant has been in force against him since November 2024. However, Hungary stated at the time that it would not comply with the warrant. In line with that position, Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit the country, calling the decision of the Hague-based court ‘absurd and shameful’. He has now become the first leader of an ICC member state to host the Israeli prime minister since the warrant was issued.
