Hungary to withdraw from the ICC following visit from Israel PM

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at a press conference on Thursday with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hungary will leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC issued arrest against and Former Defence Minster for war crimes and crimes against humanity, namely using “starvation as a method of warfare” and “directing attacks Orbán the court’s “witch-hunt” and reaffirmed Hungary’s unwavering commitment to supporting Israel. Israel remains a in international law, where its long history of flagrant violations and impunity point to a scathing double-standard in how human rights law is applied in practice.

Israel’s actions towards Palestinians have been gravely condemned across the world sparking significant social uproar, as well as of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The reluctance of the international community and institutions to enforce the most basic of its principles has cast serious on its effectiveness and legitimacy. This troubling sentiment is furthered by Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC.



Hungary consistently the highest out of all EU states for corruption and has seen a sharp decline in civil liberties and respect for the rule of law since Orbán’s reelection in 2014. In 2022, the Council of the European Union approximately €6.3 billion in EU funds to Hungary citing corruption and abuse of the .

The country faced further criticism recently when a anti-LGBTQ+ law was passed, protestors to fill the streets of Budapest. Mounting grievances towards Orbán has propelled support for the leader of the opposition leader, Péter Magyar, perhaps presenting a challenge to the Orbán regime in next years’ election. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for spying On April 5, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death after a treason trial in which they were convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

Learn more about the . Lockerbie bombers turned over for trial On April 5, 1999, the government of Libya turned over to British authorities two of its citizens who were accused of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. The subsequent trial of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah began on May 3, 2000.

When the court reached its , Fhimah was found not guilty and returned to Libya, while Megrahi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Learn more about the from the Syracuse University Law School. Also, learn more about the into the disaster from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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