Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to Hungary for a four-day visit, defying an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Despite being a founding member of the ICC, Hungary has openly refused to comply with the court’s decision. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has assured that Netanyahu will not be arrested during his visit.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Orban in Budapest on Wednesday evening. The details of their meeting remain limited, with a confirmed visit to a Holocaust memorial. This marks Netanyahu’s second foreign trip since the ICC issued arrest warrants against him and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. Earlier, he visited Washington to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump, as both the U.S. and Israel do not recognize the ICC.
The Hague-based court has condemned Hungary’s decision to ignore the arrest warrant, emphasizing that ICC member states are obligated to enforce its rulings. ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah stated that nations cannot “unilaterally determine” the court’s legal decisions and must seek resolution through judicial processes rather than defiance. The European Green Party also called for Netanyahu’s arrest, urging EU nations to uphold international law and ensure accountability for alleged war crimes.
The ICC’s warrant accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of intentionally depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential supplies, including food, water, medical aid, fuel, and electricity. Israel has rejected these allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and driven by anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, Orban continues to be a divisive figure in the European Union, criticized for his policies that weaken judicial independence and suppress civil society—tactics that many compare to Netanyahu’s governance in Israel.
