Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán convened in Budapest to explore enhanced defense collaboration and commend the robust diplomatic connections between their nations. During Netanyahu’s visit on Thursday, Hungary announced its decision to depart from the International Criminal Court (ICC), mere hours after the Israeli Premier’s arrival.
Gergely Gulyás, the minister responsible for Orbán’s office, declared Hungary’s plan to commence its withdrawal process on the same day. This move follows the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant in November 2024 for Netanyahu, who is suspected of committing crimes against humanity in relation to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Upon the issuance of the arrest warrant, Viktor Orbán extended an invite to Netanyahu to Budapest, guaranteeing that he would not be apprehended on Hungarian soil. During their joint press conference, Orbán criticized the ICC, labeling it as “no longer an impartial court, not a court of law, but a political court,” and voiced his continued support for Israel against Hamas in Gaza. The Hungarian leader also highlighted the strong economic and military ties between the two countries, mentioning the presence of 150 Israeli companies in Hungary and acquisitions of Israeli defense and military equipment.
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for Hungary, a country he has visited since 1991, and thanked Orbán for his “bold and principled” stance against the ICC. This marks Netanyahu’s second international journey since the ICC’s warrant – the first being a trip to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington earlier in the year. The Israeli leader also holds an invitation from Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been critical of the ICC’s actions towards Netanyahu.
According to international law, Hungary is required to send a formal notification of its withdrawal intentions to the UN Secretary-General, with the withdrawal becoming effective one year after such notice. An ICC spokesperson, Fad El-Abdullah, stated that despite its decision, Hungary remains duty-bound to cooperate with the Court.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/04/04/viktor-orban-and-benjamin-netanyahu-discussed-further-defence-cooperation-between-hungary-
