Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, proper, discuss after a welcoming ceremony with a guard of honor at Buda Fort in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.
Denes Erdos/AP
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Denes Erdos/AP
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary will begin the method to withdraw from the Worldwide Prison Court docket, an official mentioned Thursday, simply as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived to pink carpet remedy within the nation’s capital regardless of an arrest warrant from the world’s solely everlasting international tribunal for battle crimes and genocide.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave the Israeli chief a welcome with full navy honors in Budapest’s Fort District. The 2 shut allies stood facet by facet as a navy band performed and an elaborate procession of troopers on horseback and carrying swords and bayoneted rifles marched by.
Because the ceremony unfolded, Orbán’s chief of workers, Gergely Gulyás, launched a quick assertion saying that “the government will initiate the withdrawal procedure” for leaving the court docket, which might take a yr or extra to finish.
Netanyahu makes second journey overseas since warrant
Netanyahu’s go to to Hungary, which is scheduled to final till Sunday, was solely his second international journey for the reason that ICC issued the warrant towards him in November.
The ICC, based mostly in The Hague, Netherlands, mentioned when issuing its warrant that there was cause to consider Netanyahu and former Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant had dedicated crimes towards humanity in reference to the battle in Gaza.
The battle started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and taking 251 hostages, most of whom have since been launched in ceasefire agreements and different offers. Israel rescued eight residing hostages and has recovered dozens of our bodies.
Israel’s offensive has killed greater than 50,000 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which does not say whether or not these killed are civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 militants, with out offering proof. Israeli navy’s response resumed final month, shattering a ceasefire.
After the ICC issued the warrant, Orbán invited Netanyahu to Budapest, and accused the court docket of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.” That invitation was in open defiance of the court docket’s ruling and contradicted Hungary’s obligations as a signatory to arrest any suspects dealing with a warrant in the event that they set foot on their soil.
All nations within the 27-member European Union, together with Hungary, are signatories, however the court docket depends on member nations to implement its rulings. Hungary joined the court docket in 2001 throughout Orbán’s first time period as prime minister.
Orbán says ICC is ‘not an neutral court docket’
At a information convention following their assembly, Orbán mentioned that he believes the ICC is “no longer an impartial court, not a court of law, but a political court. And this was most clearly shown by the decisions regarding Israel.”
“I am convinced that this otherwise important international judicial forum has been degraded into a political tool, with which we cannot and do not want to engage,” Orbán mentioned.
The Hungarian chief, regarded by critics because the EU’s most intransigent spoiler within the bloc’s decision-making, is seen as utilizing a few of the ways that Netanyahu has been accused of using in Israel: subjugation of the judiciary, antagonism towards the EU and cracking down on civil society and human rights teams.
Through the information convention, the place journalists weren’t permitted to ask questions, Netanyahu praised Hungary’s choice to withdraw from the ICC, thanking Orbán for taking a “bold and principled decision.”
“The ICC directs its actions against us fighting a just war with just means,” Netanyahu mentioned. “You are the first … state that walks out of this corruption and this rottenness, and I think it’ll be deeply appreciated, not only in Israel but in many, many countries around the world.”
Israeli chief faces rising issues at house
Netanyahu’s go to to Hungary was his second alternative to journey overseas following the issuance of the warrant — the primary was when he met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in February. It was additionally an opportunity to challenge a picture of statesmanship whereas he faces mounting discontent at house.
Netanyahu has confronted mass protests by Israelis who worry his choice to renew the battle in Gaza endangers the lives of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. He has additionally sparked anger by making an attempt to fireplace or sideline prime officers in what critics view as an influence seize and an assault on state establishments.
Together with resuming its offensive in Gaza final month, Israel halted all imports of meals, gasoline and humanitarian assist to the territory’s 2 million Palestinians to strain Hamas to launch extra hostages and settle for proposed adjustments to the truce settlement.
The ICC has criticized Hungary’s choice to defy its warrant for Netanyahu. The court docket’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, earlier mentioned that it is not for events to the ICC “to unilaterally determine the soundness of the Court’s legal decisions.” On Thursday, he mentioned that the court docket “recalls that Hungary remains under a duty to cooperate with the ICC.”
