Hungary’s parliament voted on Tuesday to initiate the country’s formal withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, a move hailed by senior Israeli officials as a stand against the court’s political targeting of the Jewish state.
The bill, submitted by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, passed with 134 lawmakers in favor and 37 opposed. The legislation cited concern over the ICC being used “as instruments of political influence,” echoing longstanding Israeli objections to the court’s legitimacy.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government first announced the withdrawal plan on April 3, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state visit to Budapest—one of only two trips Netanyahu has made abroad since the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Orbán has condemned the warrants and vowed Hungary would not honor it. The withdrawal would make Hungary the only European Union member state that does not recognize the ICC’s authority.
“Hungary firmly rejects the use of international organisations—in particular criminal courts—as instruments of political influence,” the bill states, according to the Hungarian parliament’s website.
Netanyahu praised the decision, calling it “bold and principled” and reiterating that Israel is being unfairly targeted over its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. He has denied all allegations brought by the court.
“I praise the Hungarian Parliament for its just and historic decision this morning to approve the withdrawal from the ICC,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar posted on X. “The so-called ‘International Criminal Court’ has lost all moral credibility in its zest to remove Israel’s basic right to defend itself. Thank you Hungary and @PM_ViktorOrban!”
In an earlier post, Sa’ar called the move a vital correction. “The so-called ‘International Criminal Court’ lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel’s right to self-defense,” he wrote in April.
The ICC, established over 20 years ago to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, relies on its member states for enforcement. Israel and the United States are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
In a joint press conference during his visit to Hungary, Netanyahu thanked Orbán for ensuring that the ICC warrant would have “no impact whatsoever on the Hungarian-Israeli alliance and friendship.” Orbán also promised Netanyahu safety and freedom while in the country.
Hungary’s exit from the ICC will become official one year after the United Nations Secretary-General receives formal notification.