Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assuring his safety despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant accusing Netanyahu of war crimes and genocide.
Orbán dismissed the ICC’s move as a politically charged interference in an unresolved Middle Eastern conflict, claiming it undermines international law.
“It’s an outrageously brazen—cynical, even—decision by the ICC,” Orbán declared on Kossuth Radio, accusing the court of escalating tensions rather than promoting justice. In defiance, he announced his plans to host Netanyahu in Hungary, guaranteeing the ICC’s verdict would carry no weight there.
Orbán emphasized the importance of preserving strong Israeli-Hungarian ties, framing his invitation as an opportunity for Netanyahu to negotiate freely and securely. His remarks align with Hungary’s past skepticism toward ICC rulings, notably its refusal to enforce a similar warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The ICC recently upheld its jurisdiction over Israel’s actions, asserting there’s credible evidence that Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bear responsibility for using starvation as a weapon in Gaza. The court alleges deliberate deprivation of essential resources like food, water, and medicine for civilians. Member states of the ICC, numbering 124, are obligated to arrest Netanyahu should he enter their borders. Several EU nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, have expressed their intent to comply.
Orbán’s defiance reflects a broader reluctance in Hungary to enforce ICC mandates. Gergely Gulyás, a Hungarian official, previously noted that the country prioritizes its own legal framework, which has yet to incorporate the ICC statute. While tensions over the Gaza conflict continue, the ICC warrant poses significant challenges for Israel on the international stage.
