Hungary has announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant move away from the world’s only permanent tribunal for war crimes and genocide.

Axar.az, citing AP, reports that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, confirmed on Thursday that the government would initiate the formal withdrawal procedure in accordance with constitutional and international legal frameworks.

This decision coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest, despite an ICC arrest warrant issued against him over his handling of the Gaza conflict.

Orbán, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has openly criticized the ICC’s warrant, calling it “outrageously impudent” and “cynical.”

Hungary, as an ICC member state, is technically obligated to detain individuals facing arrest warrants, but the court lacks enforcement power, relying on member nations to comply. The Hungarian government’s move signals further defiance against international legal mechanisms and strengthens its alignment with Israel amid ongoing global scrutiny.