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.
Minister Gergely Gulyás confirmed that Hungary will initiate the formal termination procedure on Thursday, in line with constitutional and international legal obligations.
As previously reported by Hungarian Conservative, Orbán allegedly instructed three of his ministers in May 2024 to examine the potential consequences of Hungary leaving the ICC’s jurisdiction. At the time speculation was already circulating regarding a possible warrant against Netanyahu.
The ICC currently has 124 member states, including every European country except Türkiye, Belarus, Monaco, and the Vatican. However, several major global players—including the United States, Russia, China, Ukraine, and Israel—are not members.
The decision aligns with Hungary’s long-standing scepticism toward the court. In March 2023, when the ICC issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Gulyás stated that Hungary would not arrest him if he entered the country.
Following former US President Donald Trump’s move to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and his imposition of sanctions on ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and other court officials, Hungary also hinted at a possible exit. At the time, Orbán posted on X: ‘It’s time for Hungary to review what we’re doing in an international organization that is under US sanctions!’
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Orbán on Thursday afternoon and is expected to hold several diplomatic meetings during his stay in Hungary, which will last until Sunday.
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