Netanyahu faces mounting arrest demands during Hungary visit
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Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Orban and other key Hungarian politicians before returning to "Israel" on April 6.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban chat as they attend a signing ceremony in the Parliament building in Budapest on July 18, 2017 (AP)
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Netanyahu will fly to Hungary on Wednesday despite an outstanding arrest demand from the International Criminal Court after Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised to protect him.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Orban and other key Hungarian politicians before returning to "Israel" on April 6.
Orban described the ICC ruling as "shameful" and invited Netanyahu to visit the nation.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant for suspected crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.
The European Green Party has called for Netanyahu to be arrested and face trial at The Hague.
Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Greens, stated that the European Union and national governments have a responsibility to respect international law and hold people accountable for war crimes and human rights violations.
Cuffe asserted that ignoring the arrest warrant is a "disregard for the rule of law" and cited it was "long overdue for member states to move forward with Article 7 to restore fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy in Hungary."
Hungary signed the Rome Statute, an international treaty that established the International Criminal Court in 1999, and ratified it two years later, during Orban's first term.
However, Hungary has never adopted the treaty's provisions on constitutional grounds, and hence maintains that it is not bound by ICC rulings.
European Green Party co-chair Vula Tsetsi argued that "Orban is bulldozering over EU treaties and obligations."
HRW calls on Hungary to arrest Netanyahu upon arrival
In a similar context, Human Rights Watch has urged Hungary to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country, citing Hungary's legal obligation as an International Criminal Court (ICC) member to cooperate in arrests.
The organization criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orban's invitation to Netanyahu, calling it an affront to victims of serious crimes, and expressed disappointment that several EU countries have refused to enforce the ICC's arrest warrant.
“Hungary should deny entry to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or arrest him if he enters the country,” HRW said Tuesday after the Israeli PM annonced the visit.
According to HRW, Hungary has an obligation to secure the arrest of any suspects entering its territory
The rights organization also voiced "regret" when EU officials in France, Poland, Germany, Italy, and Romania failed to implement the warrant.
"The EU's leadership and other EU member states, along with other ICC member countries, should publicly call on Hungary and all ICC member countries to cooperate with the ICC by arresting Netanyahu should he visit their territories," according to the statement.
The organization claimed that Orban and his government have shown "blatant disregard" for the rule of law and human rights.
"Allowing Netanyahu's visit in breach of Hungary's ICC obligations would be Orban's latest assault on the rule of law," says Evenson.
HRF to file legal action
Likewise, the pro-Palestine advocacy organization Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said it is launching “urgent legal” action to counter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Hungary despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued over war crimes in Gaza.
“HRF will petition the ICC, call on the Hungarian Public Prosecutor to arrest him, and notify European airspace authorities to deny him passage,” it said in a post on X.
The #HindRajabFoundation is launching urgent legal actions to counter Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Hungary tomorrow.
— The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) April 1, 2025
HRF will petition the ICC, call on the Hungarian Public Prosecutor to arrest him, and notify European airspace authorities to deny him passage. Legal… pic.twitter.com/zSrV8OxTt4
“Legal teams across Europe are also preparing to activate universal jurisdiction if he travels beyond Hungary. HRF urges all European states to uphold international law and refuse safe haven to suspected war criminals,” the post read.
When the arrest warrants were issued, Orban stated that he would welcome Netanyahu to visit and "will guarantee him that if he comes, the warrant will no effect in Hungary."
He referred to the warrants as "cynical" political meddling in the continuing Middle East turmoil disguised as legal action.
Amnesty International has also urged Hungary to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the country and hand him over to the ICC. ​​​​​​​
