Hungary Refuses to Arrest Netanyahu Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary on Thursday for a four-day visit, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes in Gaza.

Hungary, an ICC member, is technically required to arrest anyone facing a court warrant. However, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not comply with the ruling.

Netanyahu is set to meet Orban before a press conference and will visit a Holocaust memorial during his stay. His trip comes as he faces political pressure at home over allegations that three of his aides had questionable ties with Qatar. Netanyahu has dismissed the claims as “fake news,” while Qatar has called them a “smear campaign.”

This is Netanyahu’s second foreign trip since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November. He previously visited Washington in February.

The ICC maintains that its member states are legally obligated to enforce arrest warrants. Orban, however, has condemned the court’s decision, calling it “brazen, cynical, and completely unacceptable.”

Israel has denied all accusations, insisting that the ICC’s actions are politically motivated and ignore its right to self-defense.