On April 3, 2025, the Hungarian government officially announced its procedure to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing a warrant for arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The announcement came during Netanyahu's visit to Budapest, where he was welcomed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with military honors at Buda Castle.

During a joint press conference, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Orban for his 'courageous and principled stance' against the ICC, stating, 'It is important to stand up to this corrupt organization that targets us as we pursue a just war.' He predicted that more countries might follow Hungary's lead in withdrawing from the court.

In response to Hungary's announcement, the ICC expressed regret, emphasizing that any departure from the court undermines the 'common quest for justice.'

Orban had invited Netanyahu to Hungary earlier, shortly after the ICC issued the arrest warrant against him in November 2024, expressing his shock at what he termed the 'shameful decision' of the court.

He criticized the ICC as a 'political tribunal that has lost its impartiality,' while neglecting to mention that the ICC had also issued a warrant against former Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif at the same time.

Despite Hungary's official withdrawal, the ICC reminded that Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the court until the withdrawal process is finalized.

The Palestinian Authority has called for Hungary to 'immediately deliver to justice' Netanyahu, who is scheduled to remain in Hungary until Sunday.

A bill for withdrawal is expected to be voted on in the Hungarian Parliament by the end of May. Once passed, Hungary will notify the United Nations, initiating a process that will take one year to complete.

Hungary signed the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, during Orban's first term as Prime Minister.

However, Hungary has not ratified the associated convention due to constitutional reasons, claiming it is not required to comply with the ICC's decisions.

The ICC, founded in 2002, currently has 125 member states and is tasked with prosecuting individuals for the gravest crimes against humanity when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so.

Notably, the court does not include the United States, Russia, Israel, China, or Myanmar among its members.

To date, only Burundi and the Philippines have officially withdrawn from the ICC.

Orban's shift toward withdrawing from the ICC has occurred after former President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court in February due to what he called 'illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.' Reports indicate that Netanyahu and Orban discussed this issue with U.S. President Joe Biden during their meeting on Thursday.

Netanyahu's visit comes amid significant domestic turmoil, as he grapples with an ongoing confrontation with Israel's Supreme Court, which has suspended his government’s decision to dismiss the current head of the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security service).

Additionally, two of Netanyahu's advisors are under investigation in a case dubbed 'Qatargate' by Israeli media, linked to alleged funding from Qatar to promote the interests of the Gulf emirate in Israel.

This situation has been characterized by Netanyahu as a 'witch hunt,' and he himself was questioned by police on the matter.

Netanyahu, alongside his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, is facing prosecution from the ICC following the outbreak of the war initiated by Hamas's unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023. Israel has vowed to dismantle the Palestinian Islamist movement and has escalated military retaliations in response.