Netanyahu praised the decision as “bold and principled,” praising Hungary for its “proud” support for Israel. “This is important not just for us, but for all democracies … it’s important to stand up to this corrupt organization,” he said. The Israeli PM said he expects Hungary to be the first, but not last country to walk away from the court. The leaders delivered their short statements without taking any questions. Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary marked the first time the Israeli leader stepped foot on European soil since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as against three top officials of Hamas, in May 2024.

Hungary will start the process to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, an official said Thursday, just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived to red carpet treatment in the country’s capital despite an arrest warrant from the world’s only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave the Israeli leader a welcome with full military honors in Budapest’s Castle District. The two close allies stood side by side as a military band played and an elaborate procession of soldiers on horseback and carrying swords and bayoneted rifles marched by. As the ceremony unfolded, Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, released a brief statement saying that “the government will initiate the withdrawal procedure” for leaving the court, which could take a year or more to complete.

Orban's Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyas told state media that Hungary would launch its withdrawal process later in the day on Thursday. The withdrawal doesn't come as a surprise as Orban questioned the country's involvement in the ICC in February following President Donald Trump's decision to impose sanctions on the court's prosecutor, Karim Khan. "It's time for Hungary to review what we're doing in an international organization that is under U.S. sanctions," Orban said on X in February. Hungary's parliament will likely approve the bill to begin the year-long withdrawal process from the ICC since it is controlled by Orban's Fidesz Party, according to Reuters.