ICC governing body regrets Hungary withdrawal as Israel's Netanyahu visits EU country
The Hague, Netherlands (AFP) April 3 - The governing body of the International Criminal Court Thursday voiced regret and concern over Hungary's announcement it was leaving the court, saying any departure harmed a "shared quest for justice."
"When a State Party withdraws from the Rome Statute (that established the ICC), it clouds our shared quest for justice and weakens our resolve to fight impunity," the presidency of the Assembly of State Parties said in a statement.
(FILES) This photograph taken on March 14, 2025 shows the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Hungary's government announced on April 3, 2025 that it would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), just before Prime Minister Viktor Orban was to receive his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu despite an ICC arrest warrant against him. Orban extended an invitation to Netanyahu last November, saying Hungary would not execute the warrant, a day after the ICC issued the arrest warrant against the Israeli premier over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
(Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
The court is "at the centre of the global commitment to accountability" and the international community should "support it without reservation", the statement added.
"Justice requires our unity."
The governing body also extended an olive branch to Hungary, which earlier Thursday announced it was starting the one-year process to withdraw from the ICC.
(FILES) This photograph taken on March 14, 2025 shows a flag fluttering outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Hungary's government announced on April 3, 2025 that it would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), just before Prime Minister Viktor Orban was to receive his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu despite an ICC arrest warrant against him. Orban extended an invitation to Netanyahu last November, saying Hungary would not execute the warrant, a day after the ICC issued the arrest warrant against the Israeli premier over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
(Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
Every member of the court "has the right to voice its concerns before the Assembly," it said.
"The presidency strongly encourages Hungary to have a meaningful discussion on this issue."
In the meantime, the body urged Hungary to "continue to be a resolute party to the Rome Statute."
Budapest said it was quitting the ICC just as Prime Minister Viktor Orban hosted Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, whom the tribunal has accused of war crimes in Gaza.
