Hungary withdraws from ICC during Netanyahu visit

Hungary will begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing concerns over the court's politicization, the head of the Prime Minister's Office, Gergely Gulyas, said on Thursday, reported Xinhua.

The announcement came hours after Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who is sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in Hungary for a state visit, reported British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The ICC issued the warrants last November against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" in Gaza.

Hungary will become the first European country to host Netanyahu since the ICC issued the arrest warrant.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated earlier this year that Hungary continues to welcome the Israeli leader despite the warrant.

Gulyas told state news agency MTI that the government would initiate the formal withdrawal process later in the day, in line with constitutional and international legal frameworks.

Gulyas also noted that Hungary never formally incorporated the ICC's Rome Statute into domestic law, making enforcement of its decisions within the country legally impossible even prior to the planned withdrawal.