Hungary’s parliament votes to remain a member of the International Criminal Court

Hungary’s parliament voted on Wednesday to remain a member of the International Criminal Court, reversing a decision by the previous government of Viktor Orbán to withdraw from the global tribunal.

Orbán’s government announced last year that Hungary would quit the ICC, the world’s only permanent global court for war crimes and genocide, shortly after a state visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which went ahead despite an ICC warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes in connection with Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC and other international organizations criticized Orbán’s government for failing to detain Netanyahu. Orbán accused the ICC of becoming a “political court.”

Hungary’s withdrawal has been set to take effect on June 2.

The bill to reverse the decision, which was submitted on Monday by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, states that in order to maintain international peace and protect human rights “it is essential that those who