Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying ICC arrest warrant

In defiance of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary this week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary this week, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

During the visit, due to begin on Wednesday and run until Sunday, Netanyahu will meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, who invited him in November, after the court issued the arrest warrant.

Orban said at the time that the warrant would “not be observed”.

All European Union member states, including Hungary, are members of the court, which means they are required to enforce its warrants.

Orban, a right-wing nationalist, has often been at odds with the EU over democratic standards and human rights in Hungary.

There was no immediate comment by Hungary about this week’s visit.

It will be Netanyahu’s second trip abroad since the court announced the warrants, following a visit to Washington in February to meet US President Donald Trump.

Israel has denounced the warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, describing the allegations as “false and absurd”.

The ICC has also issued a warrant for the arrest of a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri.

Reuters