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Israeli PM Netanyahu Visits Hungary Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has embarked on a four-day official visit to Hungary, defying an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of war crimes during Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which were in retaliation to the October 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists. Israel has rejected these accusations as politically motivated, asserting its right to self-defense.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extended the invitation to Netanyahu despite Hungary being a member of the ICC, which theoretically obliges it to enforce the court’s warrants. Orbán has criticized the ICC’s decision, describing it as “brazen, cynical, and totally unacceptable.”

This visit marks Netanyahu’s second international trip since the issuance of the ICC warrant, following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Both Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC and have denounced the court’s actions as politically motivated.

Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges faced by international legal institutions in enforcing their mandates, especially when member states choose not to comply with their obligations.