Human rights groups have called on Hungary to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he lands in Budapest on Wednesday.
By traveling to the EU country, Netanyahu is set to flout an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in the wake of alleged Israeli war crimes committed in Gaza.
Responding to reports that Netanyahu had accepted an invite to visit Hungary by the country’s leader, Viktor Orbán, Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”
She added: “As a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Hungary must arrest him if he travels to the country and hand him over to the Court.
“Any trip he takes to an ICC member state that does not end in his arrest would embolden Israel to commit further crimes against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Continuing, Guevara Rosas accused Hungary of undermining the work of the ICC, calling the visit “an insult to the victims of these crimes.”
“Hungary’s invitation shows contempt for international law and confirms that alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC are welcome on the streets of a European Union member state,” she said.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, accusing the pair of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Responding to reports that Netanyahu had accepted an invite to visit Hungary by the country’s leader, Viktor Orbán, Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”
She added: “As a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Hungary must arrest him if he travels to the country and hand him over to the Court.
“Any trip he takes to an ICC member state that does not end in his arrest would embolden Israel to commit further crimes against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Continuing, Guevara Rosas accused Hungary of undermining the work of the ICC, calling the visit “an insult to the victims of these crimes.”
“Hungary’s invitation shows contempt for international law and confirms that alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC are welcome on the streets of a European Union member state,” she said.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, accusing the pair of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu has rejected what he called "the absurd and false actions" of the ICC.
Several ICC member states, including France, Germany, Italy and Poland, have since stated or implied that they would not arrest Netanyahu if he visited.
When the warrants were initially issued, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, slammed them as “shameful and absurd.”
Netanyahu’s Hungary trip will be the second foreign trip he has undertaken since the ICC made him subject to a warrant.
In February, the Israeli prime minister traveled to Washington, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump.
While details of Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Hungary remain unknown, he is expected to lobby for support backing Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.
Speaking to The Times of Israel, one political insider said: “Netanyahu is trying to build a coalition of as many countries as possible backing Trump’s plan for Gaza.”
Trump has previously advocated the removal of Palestinians from Gaza while proposing the U.S. “takes over” and “owns” the Gaza Strip.
Several ICC member states, including France, Germany, Italy and Poland, have since stated or implied that they would not arrest Netanyahu if he visited.
When the warrants were initially issued, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, slammed them as “shameful and absurd.”
Netanyahu’s Hungary trip will be the second foreign trip he has undertaken since the ICC made him subject to a warrant.
In February, the Israeli prime minister traveled to Washington, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump.
While details of Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Hungary remain unknown, he is expected to lobby for support backing Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.
Speaking to The Times of Israel, one political insider said: “Netanyahu is trying to build a coalition of as many countries as possible backing Trump’s plan for Gaza.”
Trump has previously advocated the removal of Palestinians from Gaza while proposing the U.S. “takes over” and “owns” the Gaza Strip.
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