Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to embark on a four-day trip to Hungary starting Thursday, in defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza, as Israel intensifies its military actions in the region.
Hungary, as a founding member of the ICC, is theoretically required to detain and extradite individuals subject to the court’s warrants. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not comply with this ruling, having extended the invitation to Netanyahu.
Amid a political crisis at home related to an investigation into potential connections between Qatar and three of his aides, Netanyahu is expected to meet with Orban before a press conference scheduled for around 1000 GMT.
Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations against his aides as “fake news,” while a Qatari official has characterized the claims as part of a “smear campaign” targeting Qatar.
In Budapest, preparations were underway on Wednesday for a stage at Buda Castle, where Orban is set to greet Netanyahu with military honors on Thursday morning. Security personnel were also present near the hotel in central Budapest where Netanyahu will be staying.
This visit marks only the second time Netanyahu has traveled abroad since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant last November. Details of his itinerary remain sparse, although he is expected to visit a Holocaust memorial.
Earlier this year, he traveled to Washington to meet with his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump. Notably, neither Israel nor the United States are members of the ICC, with the U.S. arguing that the court could be misused for politically motivated prosecutions.
Orban’s invitation to Netanyahu came just a day after the ICC announced its arrest warrant related to allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel launched a military offensive following a deadly attack by Hamas fighters that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken.
Since that time, the Israeli military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip. This has sparked global protests and led South Africa to initiate separate legal proceedings in the International Court of Justice, distinct from the ICC, accusing Israel of committing genocide.
‘UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE’
Israel has dismissed all allegations, claiming they are driven by political motives and antisemitism. The country argues that the International Criminal Court has forfeited its legitimacy by issuing warrants against a democratically elected leader acting in self-defense.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban has echoed Israel’s criticism of the court, labeling its decision to issue the warrants as “brazen, cynical, and entirely unacceptable.”
The ICC stated that member states are legally obligated to enforce its rulings, emphasizing that it is not the role of states to question the validity of its legal decisions.
When the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, it also included a warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, whose death was confirmed after the warrant was released.
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Initially, prosecutors sought to arrest Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in Gaza, both of whom were implicated in orchestrating the October 7 attack on Israel in 2023. However, both were killed by Israeli forces before the request could be finalized.
This visit occurs as Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, announcing plans to capture portions of the territory to establish a security zone and to evacuate a significant number of Palestinians, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing 59 hostages still held in Gaza.
