Israel’s PM Netanyahu to Visit Hungary Despite ICC Arrest Warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that Hungary will not arrest the Israeli prime minister, disregarding an international warrant.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Hungary for a four-day trip, even as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary is legally required to detain and transfer individuals subject to the court’s warrants. However, Orban has explicitly stated that his government will not comply with the ICC’s order.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Orban in Budapest on Wednesday evening. The official agenda is sparse, mentioning only a visit to a Holocaust memorial.
This marks Netanyahu’s second foreign trip since the ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2023 for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of violating international humanitarian law in Gaza. His previous international visit was to the United States in February, where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Neither Israel nor the U.S. is a member of the ICC.
The ICC has criticized Hungary’s refusal to enforce the warrant. Fadi El Abdallah, a court spokesperson, emphasized that ICC member states cannot unilaterally dismiss its rulings.
“Participating states have an obligation to enforce the court’s decisions,” El Abdallah told The Associated Press. “[They] may consult with the court if they disagree with its rulings, but any disputes must be settled by the court itself.”
Orban’s Defiance and Parallels with Netanyahu
Orban has frequently obstructed European Union decision-making and is viewed as a forerunner of policies similar to those Netanyahu has been accused of in Israel—including weakening judicial independence and cracking down on civil society and human rights groups.
Calls for Accountability in Europe
The European Green Party has demanded Netanyahu’s arrest, urging adherence to international law.
“The EU and national governments must uphold international law and ensure accountability for war crimes and human rights violations,” said party co-chair Ciaran Cuffe. “By ignoring the ICC’s warrant, Viktor Orban is displaying the same disregard for international law that he has shown domestically.”
The ICC issued the warrants after determining there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally deprived Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources, including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity.
Israel has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and rooted in anti-Semitism.
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