Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, invited Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit while simultaneously stating he may be obligated to arrest him under international law.
Hungary’s Potential Withdrawal from the ICC
Gergely Gulyas from the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office announced in April 2025 Hungary’s intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Formal procedures began on June 2nd, 2025, with a potential completion within a year, leaving Peter Magyar with the ability to halt the process.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Hungary in October. The newly elected Hungarian Prime Minister, Magyar, expressed his commitment to maintaining close ties with Israel and extended an invitation for Netanyahu to attend the 70th-anniversary commemoration of the Hungarian Revolution.
Magyar’s Stance on Netanyahu’s Arrest
Peter Magyar stated he has clearly communicated his position to Prime Minister Netanyahu. His government firmly supports preventing further proceedings and ensuring Hungary remains a member of the ICC.
Magyar emphasized that if Hungary remains a member of the ICC, it is obligated to arrest anyone subject to an ICC warrant upon their entry into the country.
ICC Warrant and Political Motivation
Gulyas stated Hungary’s desire to leave the ICC stemmed from the court becoming a “political body.” He cited the issuance of an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, suspected of war crimes – causing starvation in Gaza and intentionally targeting civilians – as evidence.
The ICC also accuses Netanyahu of “crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” Despite the ICC’s decision, the Orbán government previously received Netanyahu in April.
Other ICC Arrest Warrants
Warrants have also been issued by the ICC for Vladimir Putin and Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova. The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe both are responsible for the war crime of unlawfully deporting children from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia.
The ICC is also pursuing charges against Russian military officials, including General Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Nikolaevich Sokolov, for war crimes against civilians.
