Hungary was never fully committed to the International Criminal Court, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday, a day after his government announced a decision to quit the global tribunal for war crimes and genocide.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced his intention to withdraw his country from the International Criminal Court.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu applauded Hungary for its "bold and principled" decision to leave the International Criminal Court as he visited Budapest on Thursday, a rare trip abroad in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant.

After hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hungary announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), making it only the third country to do so. The decision reflects Hungary's defiance of the ICC's arrest warrant for Netanyahu,

Hungary will on Thursday start the legal procedure to exit the International Criminal Court, a senior official in Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made clear when he issued the invitation that Hungary would not respect the ICC ruling.

Just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arrived in Budapest on Thursday, Hungary said it plans to withdraw from the ICC.

Netanyahu endorses Hungary's ICC exit, criticising the court as corrupt while facing war crimes allegations over Gaza.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Hungary said Thursday it will begin the procedure of withdrawing from the world’s only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide.