Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has stated that the country will not detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite an international warrant. Netanyahu is scheduled for a four-day visit to Hungary, despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant alleging war crimes in Gaza.

Hungary, an ICC founding member, is normally required to apprehend and extradite individuals subject to ICC warrants. However, Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not follow through with this obligation.

Netanyahu’s visit will include a meeting with Orban in Budapest on Wednesday, with limited details about their plans, including a visit to a Holocaust memorial.

This trip marks Netanyahu’s second international trip since ICC warrants were issued last November for both him and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu visited Washington in February to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The ICC has criticized Hungary’s decision to ignore the arrest warrant, stating that it is not up to the parties involved to judge the validity of the court’s legal decisions. Participating states are obligated to enforce ICC decisions and may consult with the court if they disagree.

Orban has consistently been a controversial figure in the EU, often challenging the rule of law. The European Green Party has called for Netanyahu’s arrest and trial, stating that the EU and national governments are duty-bound to uphold international law and hold individuals accountable for war crimes and human rights abuses.

The ICC issued the arrest warrants after finding “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally withheld essential supplies from the civilian population in Gaza, including food, water, medicine, and fuel.

Israel has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and fueled by anti-Semitism.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/2/israels-netanyahu-heads-to-hungary-in-defiance-of-icc-arrest-warrant?traffic_source=rss