Egypt Daily News – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary on Thursday (April 3, 2025) was a “bad day for international criminal law,” in light of the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Baerbock condemned Netanyahu’s visit despite the ICC’s arrest warrant, saying during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, “This is a bad day for international criminal law.”
She emphasized that European Union rules apply to all member states, stating that she has repeatedly made it clear that “no one is above the law in Europe,” and that this applies to all areas of law.
In connection with this, the ICC reminded Hungary that it remains “obligated to cooperate” regarding the arrest warrant, following Budapest’s decision to withdraw from the court during Netanyahu’s visit. ICC spokesperson Fadi Abdullah told reporters, “The court reminds that Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the ICC.”
Netanyahu praised Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, describing it as a “brave” move. In a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Netanyahu said, “You made a brave and principled decision, and I thank you, Viktor,” adding, “This is important for all democracies. It’s important to stand up to this corrupt organization.”
Orbán, for his part, stated that Hungary supports Israel’s right to defend itself, adding that the ICC’s decisions regarding Israel “showed that it has become a political tool.”
Netanyahu arrived in Hungary on Thursday, marking his first trip to Europe since the ICC issued the arrest warrant against him. Shortly after his arrival, the Hungarian government announced its decision to withdraw from the ICC. Orbán had invited Netanyahu to visit Budapest in November, just one day after the ICC’s arrest warrant was issued.
Israel rejected the accusations and claimed they were politically motivated and driven by antisemitism. Israel also argued that the ICC lost its legitimacy by issuing an arrest warrant against a democratically elected leader of a country exercising its right to self-defense.
Hungary, a founding member of the ICC, is theoretically obligated to arrest and extradite any individual subject to an ICC arrest warrant. However, Orbán made it clear when issuing the invitation that Budapest would not enforce the arrest warrant, calling it “outrageous, absurd, and completely unacceptable.”
Hungary signed the ICC founding agreement in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, but it has not yet passed national legislation regarding the court. The Hungarian parliament, dominated by Orbán’s Fidesz party, is likely to approve a bill to begin the withdrawal process, which will take about a year.
The Netherlands, as the host country for the ICC, clarified that Hungary must fulfill its obligations to the court until the withdrawal process is completed. Dutch Foreign Minister Kasper Veldkamp told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO meeting, “The entire process of withdrawal from the ICC will take about a year, and during this period, Hungary will have to fulfill all of its obligations toward the court.”
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon against Palestinians in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, who was reported killed in clashes by the group in January 2025.
Hamas, an armed Palestinian Islamist movement, is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the European Union, the United States, and other countries.
