Hungary announced it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes, arrived in the country on Thursday.

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, had vowed to ignore the two ICC warrants against Mr Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Budapest is a signatory to the ICC 1998 treaty, which means it is required to arrest and hand over anyone subject to a warrant from the court if they enter its territory.

Zoltan Kovacs, Mr Orban’s international press spokesman said: “The withdrawal process will begin on Thursday, in line with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal obligations.”

Israel is not a signatory to the ICC, and neither is the US, which imposed sanctions on the Hague-based court after it issued the warrants against Mr Netanyahu.

In November, Mr Orban, an ally of Mr Trump, responded to the ICC arrest warrants issued over Israel’s war in Gaza by inviting Mr Netanyahu to make an official visit to Hungary.