Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday that he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his country, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Hungary's Orbán criticized the ICC during a state radio interview, accusing the tribunal based in The Hague of "interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes." He argued that the ICC's decision to issue a warrant for Israel's Netanyahu over his handling of the war in Gaza not only undermines international law but also exacerbates regional tensions.
Orbán, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, denounced the ICC arrest warrant as "outrageously impudent" and "cynical." Orbán announced plans to invite Netanyahu to visit Hungary later the same day and pledged to ignore the warrant should the Israeli leader accept the invitation.
"We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him," Orbán said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also criticized the warrant calling it "absurd."
ICC Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu
As an ICC member, Hungary is obliged to detain individuals with outstanding warrants who enter its territory. However, the ICC lacks the mechanisms to enforce such actions, leaving compliance up to member states.
The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and leaders of Hamas. The warrants accuse them of crimes against humanity related to the 13-month conflict in Gaza.
The ICC warrants allege that Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant employed "starvation as a method of warfare" by restricting humanitarian aid and deliberately targeting civilians during Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli officials have firmly denied the accusations.
What Is the US Response to the ICC Arrest Warrants?
Neither Israel nor its key ally, the United States, are members of the International Criminal Court. However, the arrest warrants have placed other Israeli allies, including some close European partners, in a difficult position. Countries like France have expressed support for the ICC's decision and indicated they may detain Netanyahu should he travel there.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed worry over the ICC's actions, stating that President Joe Biden's administration was "deeply concerned by the prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision."
How Did Netanyahu Respond to the Arrest Warrants?
In a statement on Friday, Netanyahu responded to the recent remarks and support from Orbán saying "Against the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary — like our friends in the United States — is displaying moral clarity and standing by justice and truth."
The ICC's decision coincided with reports from health authorities in Gaza that the death toll from Israel's campaign in Gaza had surpassed 44,000. According to the authorities, more than half of those killed were women and children, although their figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israel's operation in Gaza was sparked on Oct. 7 last year when Iran-backed Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and took some 250 people hostage. Around 100 hostages remain missing in Gaza, with many feared dead.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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