Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to embark on a four-day visit to Hungary tomorrow, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning allegations of war crimes in Gaza, as Israel intensifies its military operations in the region.
As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary is theoretically required to apprehend and extradite anyone that is subject to a warrant from the court. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made it clear when extending the invitation that Hungary would not comply with the ruling.
Mr. Netanyahu is currently facing a political crisis back home due to an investigation into alleged connections between Qatar and three of his aides. He is scheduled to meet with Mr. Orban prior to a press conference tomorrow morning.
The Prime Minister has dismissed the allegations against his aides as “fake news.” A representative from Qatar has described the claims as part of a “smear campaign” targeting the nation.
Security personnel have been observed near the central Budapest hotel where Mr. Netanyahu will be residing.
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, stated that Hungary would disregard the ICC’s ruling.
This visit marks only the second occasion Mr. Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant last November. However, details of his itinerary remain sparse, aside from a planned visit to a Holocaust memorial.
He previously traveled to Washington in February for a meeting with his close ally, US President Donald Trump.
Both Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC, with Washington contending that the court could be utilized for politically motivated prosecutions.
Mr. Orban extended the invitation to Mr. Netanyahu a day after the ICC released its arrest warrant linked to allegations of war crimes in Gaza. This followed a devastating attack by numerous Hamas fighters that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the kidnapping of 251 individuals.
Since that incident, the Israeli campaign has led to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians and caused widespread devastation in Gaza, inciting protests globally and prompting South Africa to initiate separate legal proceedings in the International Court of Justice—a different body from the ICC—accusing Israel of genocide.
‘Completely unacceptable’
Israel has categorically rejected the allegations, stating they are driven by political motives and antisemitism.
The nation asserts that the ICC has forfeited its legitimacy by issuing warrants against a democratically elected leader acting in self-defense.
Mr. Orban has echoed Israel’s condemnation of the ICC, calling its decision to issue the warrants “brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.”
The ICC issued a statement indicating that member states have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s decisions and that it is not for states to assess the validity of its legal judgments.
Read more: What is the International Criminal Court?
Along with the warrants for Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant’s arrests, the ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, whose death has since been confirmed.
Initially, prosecutors sought to arrest Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in Gaza, both of whom, along with Mr. Deif, orchestrated the October 7 attack on Israel in 2023. However, both were killed by Israel prior to the approval of the request.
This visit coincides with Israel’s expansion of its military campaign in Gaza, as it announced plans to seize portions of the enclave to establish a security zone and evacuate substantial numbers of Palestinians, aiming to exert pressure on Hamas to release 59 hostages still held in Gaza.
