Hungary announces withdrawal from Int'l Criminal Court as Netanyahu arrives for 4-day visit

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Hungary for a four-day visit in Budapest, and shortly before his official welcome by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian leader announced his country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Gergely Gulyás, the minister heading Orbán’s office, announced the withdrawal from the court to Hungarian national news agency MTI on Thursday morning. 

Minister Gulyás said the Hungarian government will initiate the termination procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal frameworks. 

‼️ BREAKING: Hungary to exit the International Criminal Court. Minister Gergely Gulyás announced that the government has decided to withdraw from the ICC.

⚖️ The withdrawal process will begin on Thursday, in line with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal obligations. pic.twitter.com/zem99CdKsH

— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) April 3, 2025

“The International Criminal Court was a respectable initiative, but at the same time, we can see in recent times that – and the indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the saddest example of this – it has become a political body,” Gulyás told MTI. 

Hungary had previously said that it would not enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu. The country has also supported Israel several times in the international arena since the start of the Gaza War. Prime Minister Orbán has also praised the countries’ relationship in the past, saying they are both “successful conservative countries.” 

Prime Minister Netanyahu was received in Budapest with great fanfare by Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán at Buda Castle, where the prime minister’s office is. 

Netanyahu greeting ceremony in Budapest pic.twitter.com/M9wcWn8gyA

— Lahav Harkov 🎗️ (@LahavHarkov) April 3, 2025

During his visit to Budapest, Netanyahu is expected to discuss diplomatic relations between Israel and Hungary, economic cooperation, and Hungary's support for Israel's policy in the international arena. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had already raised the possibility of withdrawing from the ICC in February after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. 

"The time has come for Hungary to examine what we are doing in an international organization that is subject to U.S. sanctions," Orbán said at the time. 

Hungary signed the Rome Statute, which includes the principles by which the International Criminal Court in The Hague operates, in 1999. 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Hungary’s decision in a post to 𝕏. 

“I commend Hungary's important decision to withdraw from the ICC. FM Péter Szijjártó and I dealt with this matter extensively. The so-called "International Criminal Court" lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel's right to self-defense,” Sa’ar wrote. 

I commend Hungary's important decision to withdraw from the ICC. FM Péter Szijjártó and I dealt with this matter extensively. The so-called "International Criminal Court" lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 3, 2025

The foreign minister also thanked Hungary for its "clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.”