The Hungarian government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant shift in the country's international stance.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key ally of Netanyahu, invited the Israeli leader to Budapest in November, just a day after the ICC issued the arrest warrant. The warrant was related to allegations of war crimes in Gaza following Israel's military actions against Hamas-led forces.
Israel has consistently rejected the accusations, describing the ICC's actions as politically motivated and antisemitic. The Israeli government argues that the ICC's legitimacy has been compromised by targeting a democratically elected leader engaged in self-defense.
Hungary, a founding member of the ICC, is theoretically obligated to enforce the court’s arrest warrants. However, Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not comply with the ICC's ruling, calling the warrant “brazen, cynical, and completely unacceptable.”
Though Hungary signed the Rome Statute, the founding document of the ICC, in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, the law was never enacted domestically. Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff, clarified in November that the ICC's provisions were never incorporated into Hungarian law, meaning the country has not enforced any ICC decisions.
On Thursday, Gulyas confirmed that Hungary would begin the process of withdrawing from the ICC. The decision follows comments by Orban earlier this year suggesting that Hungary reconsider its membership in the wake of U.S. sanctions imposed on the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan.
The bill to start the year-long withdrawal process is expected to pass in Hungary’s parliament, which is controlled by Orban's Fidesz party.
Netanyahu has long enjoyed strong support from Orban, who has previously blocked EU actions critical of Israel. The relationship between the two leaders is underscored by shared political interests, especially in relation to the ICC and Israel’s ongoing security concerns.
The ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu accuses him and former Israeli defense officials of committing war crimes in Gaza, including acts of murder, persecution, and starvation. The Israeli military's operations have resulted in significant loss of life, with over 50,000 Palestinians reported dead, according to Palestinian health authorities.
In addition, the ICC had issued a warrant against a Hamas leader in November, although the individual’s death was confirmed shortly after the warrant was made public.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Azerbaijan is once again at the centre of global climate diplomacy, hosting World Environment Day 2026 and bringing together international leaders, po...
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations ag...
The Eighth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly has concluded in Samarkand, bringing together representatives from 186 countries to set environm...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani in Ankara on Thursday, underscoring Türkiye’s growing engag...
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Monday that his government would begin legal proceedings to remove President Tamás Sulyok if he continues to reject calls to resign.
The end of Viktor Orbán's sixteen-year dominance of Hungarian politics has triggered a familiar reaction across much of Europe.
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
Hungarians put an end to the sixteen years of Viktor Orbán’s premiership on the night of 12 April when Fidesz - Orbán’s party - witnessed its largest and most bitter defeat in all of its history. In a matter of hours, 155 of the Hungarian parliament’s seats went to Tisza, Magyar’s party.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and three others injured following drone attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
The next time a goal goes in during a Champions League final, fans around the world could watch it from every angle at once — frozen, rotated and replayed in ways that were impossible only a few years ago.
An ageing, poorly insured shadow armada now accounts for around one-sixth of the world's tanker fleet. Hidden by design and fraught with risk, it operates beyond conventional oversight. A maritime law expert explains how it works, who profits, and why much of the world looks the other way.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani in Ankara on Thursday, underscoring Türkiye’s growing engagement with Africa’s Sahel region as geopolitical alliances continue to shift.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment