Netanyahu arrives in Budapest, seeking to counter ICC arrest warrant

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last November, just a day after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Orban, despite Hungary being an ICC member, pledged that his country would not enforce the warrant, arguing that the court's decision "intervenes in an ongoing conflict... for political purposes."

As Netanyahu arrived in Budapest, Hungary’s Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed him on Facebook, writing, "Welcome to Budapest, Benjamin Netanyahu!" after greeting him at the airport in the Hungarian capital, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Netanyahu was received with military honors, following which he is scheduled to hold talks with Orban. A joint press conference is expected at around 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT).

Experts suggest that Netanyahu’s visit, which is set to last until April 5, is part of an effort to reduce the impact of the ICC's decision while also diverting attention from domestic tensions in Israel. By meeting Orban, a like-minded ally, Netanyahu aims to demonstrate continued international support.

"His ultimate goal is to regain the ability to travel wherever he wants," said Moshe Klughaft, an international strategic consultant and former advisor to Netanyahu, in an interview with AFP. "At first, he's flying to places where there's no risk of arrest, and in doing so, he's also paving the way to normalize his future travels."

In February, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, vowed to ensure that Netanyahu would be able to visit his country.

Klughaft added that Netanyahu’s trip to Hungary aligns with the United States’ stance on the ICC, referring to the sanctions imposed by then-US President Donald Trump in February against what he called the court’s "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel."

The ICC, based in The Hague, has maintained that Hungary has a "legal obligation" and a "responsibility towards other state parties" to enforce the court’s rulings.

"If states have concerns in cooperating with the court, they may consult the court in a timely and efficient manner," ICC spokesman Fadi El-Abdallah stated. "However, it is not for states to unilaterally determine the soundness of the court's legal decisions."

Hungary, which signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratified it two years later during Orban’s first term, has not fully incorporated the treaty into its legal system. Budapest argues that due to constitutional reasons, it is not bound to comply with the ICC’s decisions.

Hungary has also raised the possibility of withdrawing from the ICC entirely, following the example of countries like Burundi and the Philippines. According to a report by Radio Free Europe on Wednesday, citing diplomatic sources, Budapest has already decided to leave the court.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, in the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

The conflict erupted after the Palestinian militant group launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

After Orban extended the invitation, Netanyahu thanked the Hungarian leader for demonstrating "moral clarity."

During the visit, Orban is expected to express support for Netanyahu regarding Trump’s proposal to relocate more than two million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan.

By Tamilla Hasanova