Overview

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest on Thursday for a four-day state visit, despite an ICC arrest warrant issued in November 2024 for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
• Hungary formally announced it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court, initiating a year-long process requiring parliamentary approval.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, criticized the ICC's warrant as politically motivated and pledged not to enforce it.
• The ICC condemned Hungary's decision, emphasizing that member states are legally obligated to uphold the court's rulings and cooperate with its processes.
• Hungary's withdrawal reflects its broader nationalist agenda and alignment with allies like Netanyahu and Donald Trump, who imposed sanctions on the ICC in February.