Palestinians slam Hungary’s withdrawal from ICC as Hamas issues strong condemnation

Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has triggered widespread condemnation from Palestinian authorities and human rights organisations. The announcement coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Budapest for a four-day visit, marking his first trip to Europe since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for war crimes in Gaza.

Hungary’s exit from the ICC

Hungary revealed its intention to leave the ICC shortly after Netanyahu’s arrival. Gergely Gulyás, Chief of Staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, stated that the withdrawal process would adhere to constitutional and international legal frameworks.

The move positions Hungary as the third country to exit the Rome Statute, following Burundi and the Philippines. Hungary’s government has criticised the ICC as a politicised institution, citing its indictment of Netanyahu as evidence of bias. Orbán’s administration also argued that Hungary’s domestic laws do not enforce ICC rulings, effectively shielding Netanyahu during his visit.

Palestinian condemnation

Palestinian groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, denounced Hungary’s decision as a betrayal of international justice. Hamas described it as “blatant complicity” with Netanyahu, whom they labeled a “war criminal on the run from justice,” as reported by the Anadolu Agency. The group urged Hungary to reverse its decision and hand over Netanyahu to the ICC for accountability over alleged massacres in Gaza. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry echoed similar sentiments, accusing Hungary of undermining global peace and stability by hosting Netanyahu.

Netanyahu faces accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Israel’s military operations in Gaza since October 2023. These operations have resulted in over 50,500 fatalities, predominantly among women and children.

Human rights groups react

Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also condemned Hungary’s actions. Amnesty International labelled the withdrawal a “betrayal of all victims of war crimes” and accused Orbán’s government of harbouring a fugitive wanted by international justice. The group further criticised Hungary for providing implicit approval of what it referred to as Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.

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