Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Visit Hungary Amid ICC Warrant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Hungary this week, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The trip, scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Sunday, comes in response to allegations of war crimes related to the situation in Gaza.
During his visit, Netanyahu will meet with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who extended the invitation last November, shortly after the ICC announced the warrant. Orban has previously stated that Hungary would not enforce the warrant.
As a member of the European Union, Hungary is obligated to adhere to ICC regulations, which includes enforcing issued warrants. However, Orban has had a history of conflicts with the EU concerning Hungary’s adherence to democratic standards and human rights.
There has been no official comment from Hungarian authorities regarding Netanyahu’s upcoming visit. This will be Netanyahu’s second journey abroad since the ICC’s announcement of the warrants, following a trip to Washington, D.C., in February to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israel has denounced the ICC warrants against both Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, labeling the accusations as “false and absurd.” Additionally, the ICC has issued a warrant for the arrest of Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri.
