Hungary moves to withdraw from ICC as Netanyahu visits Budapest

Hungary has announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), making it the first European Union country to do so. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff confirmed that the withdrawal process would officially begin on April 3, pending parliamentary approval.

The move follows a report from Radio Liberty Hungarian Service on April 1, stating that Orbán’s government had decided to leave the ICC.

The withdrawal comes on the same day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest for an official visit. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Hungary remains a party to the Rome Statute until the withdrawal process is completed, meaning it is technically obliged to arrest Netanyahu under ICC jurisdiction. However, Orbán had already denounced the court’s decision as “outrageous” when the warrant was issued and invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary in open defiance of the ruling.

The ICC, based in The Hague, was established in 2002 and is recognized by over 120 countries. However, some major powers, including the United States, Israel, and Russia, do not recognize its jurisdiction. In February 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC, accusing it of acting illegally against the US and Israel.

Russia has also rejected the ICC’s authority, particularly after the court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in March 2023, accusing him of war crimes related to the deportation of children from occupied Ukrainian territories. Despite Mongolia being a signatory to the Rome Statute, it refused to arrest Putin during his visit in October 2024, citing energy dependence on Russia and a policy of neutrality.