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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to make a diplomatic visit to Hungary in the near future, according to a recent announcement by a Hungarian government official, despite the existence of an international arrest warrant against him related to the Gaza conflict.
The upcoming visit was confirmed by Gergely Gulyás, chief of staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, during a press briefing in Budapest. Gulyás indicated that Netanyahu’s visit would likely take place before the Easter holiday on April 20.
BREAKING: Netanyahu receives OFFICIAL invitation from Orban, the Hungarian president, to visit his country in defiance of the ICC ruling. pic.twitter.com/KArpH14QFu
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) November 22, 2024
The planned visit comes amid controversy, as Hungary’s Prime Minister Orbán, a conservative leader known for his strong alliance with Netanyahu, has publicly stated his intention to ignore the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant. Orbán has criticized the ICC’s actions, suggesting that the court was politically motivated in its decision to issue warrants during an ongoing military conflict.
While ICC member states like Hungary are technically required to arrest individuals with outstanding warrants who enter their territory, the court lacks direct enforcement capabilities. Several European nations that are ICC members have stated their commitment to executing the warrant should Netanyahu enter their jurisdictions.
The ICC’s warrant, issued in November, names Netanyahu along with his previous defense minister and Hamas’s military commander. The court cited allegations of crimes against humanity in Gaza, specifically accusing Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of employing starvation tactics through aid restrictions and deliberately targeting civilian populations – accusations that Israeli officials have firmly rejected.
The #ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister @netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety. pic.twitter.com/uRDoP307uL
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 22, 2024
During Thursday’s press conference, Gulyás expressed strong support for Hungary potentially withdrawing from the ICC, claiming the court had strayed from its legal mandate into political territory. However, he noted that no formal decision had been made regarding Hungary’s ICC membership.
Israel and its strategic partner, the United States, maintain their position of non-membership and non-recognition of the ICC as the world’s permanent court for prosecuting war crimes and genocide.
The previous month saw President Donald Trump issue an executive order implementing sanctions against the ICC over its investigations involving Israel. The order condemned the court for what it termed “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and criticized the issuance of what it called “baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and Gallant.
