The ICC is meant to be a court of last resort that steps in when a country’s own courts fail to prosecute abuses. Israel’s attorney-general told Mr Netanyahu this year that forming a state commission of inquiry might stall the ICC ’s probe. But he has yet to appoint one, and the judges noted Israel’s failure to do so in their decision.

Hungary, unlike the United States, is a signatory to the court, which accused the Israeli leader of war crimes in Gaza. Responses to the warrant from other European countries were varied.