International Criminal Court Rules Hungary Must Cooperate on Netanyahu’s Arrest Warrant
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that Hungary is obligated to cooperate with the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the Israeli leader arrived in Budapest on Thursday.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants in November last year for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip. Hungary, however, has maintained that it will not arrest Netanyahu.
Budapest also announced on Thursday that it has begun the official procedure to withdraw from the ICC. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban justified the move, saying the court in The Hague had transformed into a “political tool” over the years.
The ICC’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, later stated, “The court reminds Hungary of its obligation to cooperate with the ICC.”
Reuters reported earlier that Hungary would take at least a year to fully withdraw from the ICC. Budapest had signed the Rome Statute, which grants the ICC its power, in 1999 and ratified it two years later.
The ICC’s jurisdiction is currently recognized by 123 countries, but the court relies on its member states to apprehend and hand over suspects.
Orban had invited Netanyahu to Hungary after the ICC issued the arrest warrant, saying he would “guarantee that the ICC’s decision in Hungary will have no effect and we will not follow its content” if Netanyahu comes to the country.
At a joint press conference with his Hungarian host, Netanyahu praised Budapest’s “bold and principled” decision to withdraw from the ICC.
Netanyahu emphasized the importance of standing against “this corrupt organization” and expressed confidence that Hungary will not be the last country to leave the ICC.
The Israeli prime minister is a defendant in numerous corruption cases, with critics repeatedly suggesting he is waging war to avoid being brought to justice.
Israel’s military forces have resumed airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, following the failure of negotiations with the Palestinian Hamas organization over the release of remaining hostages and a ceasefire.
According to the latest figures from the Gaza Strip’s Health Ministry, at least 50,523 Palestinians have been killed and 114,638 others injured in the enclave since Israel began its attacks in response to the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.