Desitdown News (Hungary says it will withdraw from ICC as Israel’s Netanyahu visits)#desitdown #news

**Hungary to Withdraw from the International Criminal Court Amid Netanyahu Visit**

**BUDAPEST, Hungary — April 3, 2025**
Hungary's government has announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), just ahead of a high-profile visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Gergely Gulyás, Chief of Staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, confirmed that the government would initiate the withdrawal process. “Hungary exits the International Criminal Court. The government will begin the procedure on Thursday, in accordance with constitutional and international legal frameworks,” Gulyás said.

The decision comes after Orban, who had previously hinted at such a move in February following U.S. sanctions against the ICC, criticized the court for becoming politicized, particularly in relation to its decisions regarding Israel.

The proposed withdrawal bill is expected to be approved by Hungary’s parliament, which is dominated by Orban’s Fidesz party.

The ICC, which operates as the primary institution for prosecuting international crimes, expressed concern over Hungary's move, calling it harmful to the global quest for justice. "When a State Party withdraws from the Rome Statute, it weakens our resolve to fight impunity," the presidency of the Assembly of State Parties said in a statement.

The withdrawal process takes effect one year after a formal notice is submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General’s office. Hungary joins Burundi and the Philippines as the only nations to announce their departure from the ICC.

**Netanyahu's Visit to Hungary Amid ICC Warrant**
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest early Thursday for his first European trip since 2023, despite an active ICC arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes committed during Israel's actions in Gaza. Speaking at a joint press conference with Orban, Netanyahu thanked the Hungarian Prime Minister for his "bold and principled" stance against what he described as the ICC’s "corrupt" nature.

Israel has strongly rejected the ICC's accusations, labeling them politically motivated and rooted in anti-Semitism. Netanyahu’s government asserts that the ICC’s actions undermine the legitimacy of Israel’s self-defense measures.

Orban had previously extended an invitation to Netanyahu in November, just after the ICC issued the arrest warrant. He declared that Hungary would not enforce the ICC’s decision, stating that the court’s actions were politically driven and interfered with ongoing conflicts.

The Hague-based ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest in connection with alleged crimes including murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war during a military campaign against Gaza's civilian population. However, the ICC’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, emphasized that it is not for individual states to determine the validity of the court’s legal decisions.

**International Reactions**
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Netanyahu’s visit, describing it as a “bad day for international criminal law.” The European Union has long emphasized the importance of cooperation with the ICC, and Hungary's refusal to comply with the court’s warrants has raised concerns within the international community.

Hungary, which signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, has argued that the statute was never incorporated into Hungarian law, meaning the ICC’s rulings have no legal standing within Hungary. However, experts such as Tamas Hoffmann, a senior researcher at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, assert that Hungary still has a legal obligation to comply with ICC decisions, based on its international commitments and constitutional provisions.

As Hungary prepares to move forward with its withdrawal, the international community remains divided on the implications for global justice and accountability.

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