Hungary is expected to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC), coinciding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Budapest, according to Wednesday morning reports from the country. Hungary was among the first nations to publicly declare it would not honor the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban formally invited Netanyahu for a visit last November. "I was shocked to learn about the recent shameful decision of the International Criminal Court," Orban wrote in a letter sent from Budapest to Jerusalem. "Hungary strongly condemns this shameful decision, which has no impact on the Hungarian-Israeli alliance and friendship. As an expression of our deepest support, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to Hungary for an official visit, where we will ensure your security and freedom."
According to Hungarian media reports, the government had previously contemplated leaving the court, which until last year included Hungarian representative Judge Peter Kovacs. The withdrawal announcement, if it proceeds, will likely coincide with Netanyahu's visit and his meeting with Prime Minister Orban, coming also in the wake of sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Should Hungary finalize its decision to exit the ICC, the process would be lengthy, potentially extending to approximately a year. The government plans to submit a resolution to parliament regarding membership termination, and if approved by the majority – an official withdrawal announcement will follow.
Reports indicate that Hungarian Justice Minister Bence Tuzson revealed the expected withdrawal during a diplomatic meeting with ambassadors. This meeting took place in a room equipped with facial recognition cameras to verify that only invited diplomats were present. Each chair was labeled with the invitee's name, and tardy participants faced fines calculated by the minute.
The Hungarian government has been weighing its departure from the court for some time. Last year, reports emerged that the government had directed three ministers to explore withdrawal options, though the country was awaiting Trump's position regarding the ICC. A Hungarian source stated, "After the imposition of American sanctions on the court, the government took it as a green light."
