The governing body of the International Criminal Court Thursday voiced regret and concern over Hungary's announcement it was leaving the court, saying any departure harmed a "shared quest for justice."
"When a State Party withdraws from the Rome Statute (that established the ICC), it clouds our shared quest for justice and weakens our resolve to fight impunity," the presidency of the Assembly of State Parties said in a statement.
The court is "at the centre of the global commitment to accountability" and the international community should "support it without reservation", the statement added.
"Justice requires our unity."
The governing body also extended an olive branch to Hungary, which earlier Thursday announced it was starting the one-year process to withdraw from the ICC.
Every member of the court "has the right to voice its concerns before the Assembly," it said.
"The presidency strongly encourages Hungary to have a meaningful discussion on this issue."
In the meantime, the body urged Hungary to "continue to be a resolute party to the Rome Statute."
Budapest said it was quitting the ICC just as Prime Minister Viktor Orban hosted Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, whom the tribunal has accused of war crimes in Gaza.
