Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban Refuses to Enforce ICC Arrest Warrant for War Crimes in Gaza
Netanyahu’s impending trip, announced by his office on Sunday, follows an invitation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban, a right-wing nationalist who frequently finds himself clashing with the European Union over democratic values, has explicitly stated that Hungary will not abide by the ICC’s ruling.
The visit, set from Wednesday to Sunday, comes on the heels of Orban’s dismissal of the warrant upon its announcement in November. Despite being a member of the European Union, which obligates Hungary to uphold ICC decisions, there has been no official comment from Budapest concerning the upcoming visit.
During his visit, Netanyahu aims to secure support from Hungary for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to ethnically cleanse Gaza, turning it into a Mediterranean resort. The Times of Israel has reported that Netanyahu is pursuing a coalition of countries to back this contentious plan.
Trump presented his vision for Gaza in February, aiming to clear Palestinians from the region and create a tourist destination. Hungary has not offered a public stance on the proposal yet; however, Netanyahu’s visit indicates he is striving to garner international endorsement for the plan.
This will be Netanyahu’s second international trip since the ICC issued warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In February, he traveled to Washington to meet with then United States President Donald Trump. Israel has dismissed the allegations against its officials as “false and absurd,” with the ICC also issuing an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri.
