In a significant political development, Hungary's government has officially announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This announcement was made by Gergely Gulyas, a senior official within Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in Hungary for a state visit.
The timing of Hungary's withdrawal from the ICC is particularly notable. Prime Minister Orban had extended an invitation to Netanyahu shortly after the ICC issued the arrest warrant against him last November. Orban publicly stated that the ICC's ruling would have no impact within Hungary, showcasing his government's stance on the matter.
In November, ICC judges determined that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. In response to these allegations, Netanyahu has condemned the ICC's decision, labeling it as antisemitic.
As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary's withdrawal marks a significant shift in its international stance. The ICC currently comprises 125 member states; however, notable countries such as the United States, Russia, China, and Israel do not recognize its jurisdiction. This raises questions about the ICC's effectiveness and the implications of Hungary's exit.
The ICC has the authority to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed on the territories of states that are parties to the Rome Statute, its founding treaty. While Israel rejects the ICC's jurisdiction, the court had previously ruled in 2021 that it held jurisdiction over the occupied territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, following the UN Secretary-General's acceptance of Palestinian membership.
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