Egypt Daily News – The press service of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a statement saying: “Regarding Netanyahu’s visit [to Hungary], the Court followed its usual procedures after issuing an arrest warrant. The Court reminds that Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the International Criminal Court.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa’ar wrote on his Telegram account, “Israel welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, which reflects Hungary’s supportive stance on Israel’s issues, particularly its right to defend itself.”
A statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said, “The ministry views Orban’s reception of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as encouraging Netanyahu and his government to continue committing crimes, undermining the international justice process, and solidifying a policy of impunity.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the Hungarian Prime Minister’s reception of Netanyahu as “disrespectful to the international justice process,” urging the Hungarian government to reverse its policy and adhere to international law, EU policy, and the decisions of international legitimacy, particularly the ICC’s call for Netanyahu’s arrest and immediate transfer to justice.
Meanwhile, a statement from Hamas condemned Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC during Netanyahu’s visit, calling the decision “immoral and a slap in the face to the principle of international justice, embodying the double standards practiced by some Western governments, led by Hungary and the United States.”
Hungarian state news agency MTI reported earlier on Thursday that Hungarian Prime Minister’s office director Gergely Gulyás announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC, with the withdrawal process starting that day.
This announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, despite an international arrest warrant issued against him due to the Gaza war.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Since then, leaders of ICC member countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Poland, have indicated or hinted that they would not arrest Netanyahu if he traveled to their countries. The United States also imposed sanctions on the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan.
Under the fundamental principles of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, all individuals subject to arrest warrants issued by the Court must be arrested and handed over to it without immunity, provided they are within the jurisdiction of member states, including on their territories.
