Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), its government announced.
A senior official in the government of Prime Minister Victor Orban confirmed this hours after Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who was sought by an arrest warrant of the ICC, arrived in Hungary for a state visit.
Orban had invited Netanyahu as soon as the order was issued last November, saying that the decision would have no “effect” in his country.
In November, the Judges of the ICC stated that there were “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu bears “criminal liability” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu condemned ICC's decision as “anti -Semite”.
ICC, a global court, has the power to pursue accused in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Hungary is the founder of ICC, which counts 125 Member States and will be the first nation of the European Union to withdraw from it. The withdrawal does not affect the current production.
During a joint press conference, Orban claims that the ICC has become a “political court”. He added the court's decision to issue an order against the Israeli leader, “clearly showed” this.
In the meantime, Netanyahu welcomes Hungary's decision to “boldly and in principle” withdraw from the court.
“It is important for all democracies. It is important to face this corrupt organization,” Netanyahu said.
The more Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon S'Ar thanked Orban for his “clear and strong moral position with Israel”.
“The so -called International Criminal Court has lost its moral body after sinking the basic principles of international law in its thirst to harm Israel's right to self -defense,” Sa'ar added.
Hungary's decision is aligned with its broader foreign policy position in Orban, which has cultivated close ties with Israel and perceives a critical view of international institutions perceived as a violation of national sovereignty.
Although Hungary's withdrawal can carry symbolic weights and political consequences, this does not significantly change the operational capacity or the legal framework of the ICC.
The court faces similar challenges in the past and continues to function with broad international support.
But Hungary's criticism of the ICC as “politically prejudiced” and his decision to withdraw, as Netanyahu's visits may determine a precedent for other nations to question or abandon their commitments to international justice on the basis of political unions or disagreements with specific decisions.
The United States, Russia, China and North Korea are among the nations that are not part of the MHC and therefore do not recognize its jurisdiction.
Israel is also not part of the Treaty, but the ICC ordered in 2021 that it had jurisdiction over the occupied west coast, East Jerusalem and Gaza, as the UN Secretary -General has accepted that it has accepted this that it has accepted this The Palestinians were a memberS
Hungary must now send a written notice to the UN Secretary -General to leave the contract, with the withdrawal entering into force one year later, according to Article 127 of the Statute of Rome, which created the ICC.
MNS spokesman Fad El-Abdullah told the BBC: “When visiting Mr. Netanyahu, the court has complied with its standard procedures after the issuance of an arrest warrant. The court recalls that Hungary remains under the obligation to cooperate with ICC.”
As the order was issued, the Hungarian authorities must technically arrest Netanyahu and pass it on to the Hague court, although Member States do not always choose to impose orders on the ICC.
In Europe, some MNS member states have said they will arrest the Israeli leader if he stepped into his country while others, including Germany, have announced that Netanyahu will not be detained if he visits.
But German Foreign Minister Analen Baerbok said Hungary's announcement was “a bad day for international criminal law” on Thursday.
“Europe has clear rules that apply to all EU Member States and this is the mouth of Rome. I have clarified again and again that no one in Europe is above the law and this applies to all areas of the law,” she added.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, The United States has condemned the ICC decision to issue Netanyahu arrest orders and it has visited the country since it was issued in November. His visit to Hungary has marked Netanyahu's first trip to Europe since.
Hungarian Defense Minister Christoph Shala-Bobobrus, congratulated Netanyahu on the asphalt at Budapest Airport on Wednesday night, welcoming him in the country.
Israel is liked on arrest orders for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Joab Gallantand greatly dismisses the allegations. Both deny the authority of the ICC and the legitimacy of the Varants.
Netanyahu said at that time that it was “a dark day in the history of humanity” and that the ICC became “the enemy of humanity.”
“This is an anti -Semitic step that has one purpose – to deter me, to deter us from its natural right to defend ourselves from enemies who are trying to destroy us,” he said.
In the same decision, the Judges from the ICC also issued an order against Hamas military commander Mohammed Daife, who is a long saying that he is dead. Hamas also rejected the allegations.
The visit is coming as Israel has announced that it is expanding its offensive to Gaza and establishes a new military corridor to put pressure on Hamas, as the deadly Israeli blows continued through the Palestinian territory.
The Gaza War was triggered by the attacks led by Hamas against South Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages to Gaza. Since then, the Israeli military attacks have killed over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, health authorities in Hamas-Run Gaza say.