Hungary announces ICC withdrawal as Israel's Netanyahu visits

Hungary on Thursday said it will quit the International Criminal Court, just as Prime Minister Viktor Orban hosted his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu welcomed Hungary's decision as he visited Budapest despite an ICC arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

"You have just taken a bold and principled position on the ICC and I thank you Viktor... It's important for all democracies. It's important to stand up to this corrupt organization," Netanyahu said at a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban.

The Palestinian Authority meanwhile urged Hungary to arrest Netanyahu.

"The ministry calls on the Hungarian government... to comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant by immediately handing Netanyahu over to bring him to justice", the Ramallah-based PA's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement hours after Hungary announced it would withdraw from the ICC.