Hungarian Minister of Justice Bence Tuzson stated in a closed meeting with ambassadors that the country intends to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to the publication Szabad Europa, the meeting was held under strict secrecy—facial recognition cameras were used to ensure that only invited guests were present. Diplomats were assigned strictly designated seats, and the arrival times of latecomers were recorded on the backs of their chairs.
The decision to withdraw was made several weeks ago, but Budapest was waiting for a reaction from the United States. According to sources, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the ICC on February 5 due to an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Hungarian authorities saw this as a signal to act.
According to Szabad Europa, the Hungarian government will present a draft resolution on leaving the ICC to parliament. Once approved, the official withdrawal process will begin. The document is expected to appear on the parliament’s website soon.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Hungary in the coming days. He will meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who previously voiced his disagreement with the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over charges related to military actions in Gaza.
