A panel of judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reported Hungary to the court’s oversight committee after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest in April and departed without being detained. The judges criticized Hungary’s refusal to arrest Netanyahu, calling the decision a violation of the country’s obligations under the court’s framework.
In a statement released Thursday night, the three-judge panel wrote that “the obligation to cooperate was sufficiently clear to Hungary,” and that the failure to comply “severely undermines the Court’s ability to carry out its mandate.” The ICC relies on member nations to enforce arrest warrants, as it has no policing authority of its own.
Hungary, a consistent ally of Israel, has pushed back. During Netanyahu’s visit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban defended his nation’s decision, stating that Hungary’s commitment to the ICC was “half-hearted.” Orban’s government responded by initiating the formal process to withdraw from the court entirely.
Hungarian Minister Gergely Gulyás confirmed the move, announcing, “The government will initiate the termination procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal frameworks,” as reported by Magyar Nemzet.
The court’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, holds limited authority to penalize Hungary. It will review potential responses during its annual meeting in December.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month reaffirmed American opposition to the ICC’s actions, stating that the U.S. would impose sanctions on the four ICC judges pursuing cases against American and Israeli leaders. The U.S. and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute and do not recognize the court’s authority. President Donald Trump had previously reimposed sanctions on the ICC in February, reversing the Biden administration’s rollback of earlier restrictions.
