Hungary Votes To Leave International Court

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s parliament approved legislation Tuesday to withdraw the country from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the institute’s alleged bias toward Israel.

Orbán’s government accused the ICC of being “political” when issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of “crimes against humanity” in Gaza.

Despite the ICC arrest warrant, Orbán warmly welcomed Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in Hungary last month and announced he wanted to leave the court.

Soon after, the ICC wanted Hungary to explain why it failed to arrest Netanyahu when he visited Budapest and received a red carpet treatment.

Budapest openly rejected the idea of taking the Israeli leader into custody, calling the warrant “brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.”

However, ICC judges initiated “non-compliance” proceedings against Hungary.

The ICC’s Presidency of the Assembly of State Parties also expressed concern about Hungary’s move to leave The Hague-based court.

‘PRINCIPLED DECISION’

Yet Netanyahu called Hungary’s decision to leave the ICC a “bold and principled decision”.

Hungary’s decision to leave the ICC will take at least a year to complete, according to experts.

It is set to become the first European country of the 125-member court to leave the global authority, making it the sole non-signatory within the European Union as well.

The court was set up over two decades ago to prosecute the world’s most serious criminal cases, such as crimes against humanity and genocide.

China, Russia, the United States, and Israel are not court members.

Israel has also strongly denied that it is involved in genocide.

It says the military focuses on eliminating Hamas after it killed 1,200 people, including pregnant women and babies, while abducting hundreds in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

Latest News from Worthy News

Israel and Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire; Oil Price Falls

Friday, June 19, 2026

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.

Ukraine Suffers New Strikes As EU Presses Russia For Ceasefire (Worthy News Radio)

Friday, June 19, 2026

At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.

‘Policy Blunder’ or ‘Pathway To Peace’: Republicans Divided Over Iran Deal

Thursday, June 18, 2026

President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.

Khamenei’s MOU Statement Signals Tactical Pause, Not Peace, Analysts Warn

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States is being viewed by analysts not as an embrace of peace, but as a carefully crafted declaration that preserves Tehran’s revolutionary posture while allowing the regime to regroup.

U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Hezbollah-Linked Network Accused of Blocking Lebanon Peace Efforts

Thursday, June 18, 2026

The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of using political and financial influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the Iran-backed group’s disarmament.

Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack On Moscow, Energy Targets

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the war began, hitting a key oil refinery and other targets around the Russian capital, leaving at least one person dead and numerous others injured, Russian officials said.

Putin Courts ASEAN Leaders in Push for “Multipolar” Challenge to U.S. Influence

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan this week as Moscow moved to deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and promote its vision of a “multipolar world order” aimed at countering U.S. global dominance.