Hungary Defies ICC, Welcomes Netanyahu Despite War Crimes Warrant
Budapest hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with full honors, announces withdrawal from the ICC, and sparks global outrage over its rejection of international justice.
Watan-In a step that has triggered a wave of international criticism, the Hungarian government welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite an active arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Netanyahu—described by some Western newspapers as the “Emperor of the 21st Century”—landed in Budapest to an official high-level reception, led by Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. His public appearance on European soil at this time is seen as a blatant defiance of the ICC’s warrant, which was issued last November and also included former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The shock of the visit lay not only in its symbolism, but also in its political implications. Just hours after Netanyahu’s arrival, Hungary officially announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, declaring that it is “not obligated to enforce its warrants.” This alarming development threatens the credibility of international law and raises serious questions about the future of global justice.
Hungary Rolls Out Red Carpet for Netanyahu Amid ICC Defiance
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his close ties with Israel, received Netanyahu at the presidential palace “like a conqueror returning from battle,” as one activist put it. According to diplomatic sources, upcoming meetings between the two leaders will focus on military and security cooperation and strengthening political coordination between Budapest and Tel Aviv.
The red-carpet welcome for Netanyahu comes even as the Israeli war on Gaza continues, with thousands of civilian casualties—including women and children—amid deafening international silence and political complicity from some Western governments.
Amnesty International issued an official statement demanding that Budapest “immediately comply” with the ICC’s ruling and hand over Netanyahu, emphasizing that failure to do so is a “flagrant violation of international law and legitimizes impunity.”
But Hungary has chosen to stand with “Bibi” against the world. So, is this visit the beginning of the end for the ICC’s authority? And will other countries now dare to defy its rulings under the cover of political interests?
