Hungary has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Prime Minister Viktor Orban declaring the tribunal a “political instrument” rather than an impartial judicial body. The decision follows recent ICC rulings, including its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Palestine.

Orban stated that Hungary’s justice minister would submit exit documents to parliament, formally ending cooperation with the Hague-based court. He criticized the ICC for issuing “politically motivated and biased” decisions, particularly regarding Israel. Hungary, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, had previously rejected the ICC’s warrant, calling it unacceptable.

Hungary originally joined the ICC in 2000 under Orban’s leadership, but the prime minister now argues that the court has deviated from its founding principles. Budapest’s move aligns with its broader foreign policy stance, which often challenges multilateral institutions perceived as anti-Israel or influenced by Western liberal agendas.

The withdrawal signals Hungary’s deepening alignment with nations skeptical of international judicial bodies, reinforcing Orban’s reputation as a maverick within the EU. It also underscores the growing politicization of the ICC, which has faced accusations of selective justice from both its critics and supporters.