BUDAPEST: Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has indicated that his government would comply with international law by arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to enter the country, citing an active warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Peter Magyar emphasized that any individual wanted by the ICC must be taken into custody if they enter a member state. His remarks came after reports that he had invited Netanyahu to visit Budapest later this year.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant in 2024 against Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, including accusations involving the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
Magyar clarified that invitations had been extended broadly to global leaders in connection with events marking the 70th anniversary of Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising. However, he stressed that he had also made his legal stance clear to the Israeli leader.
Hungary’s current government, led by Viktor Orbán, previously announced plans to withdraw from the ICC following a meeting with Netanyahu in Budapest. The withdrawal is scheduled to take effect in early June.
Peter Magyar, a pro-European Union conservative, said his administration intends to reverse that decision and retain Hungary’s membership in the ICC. He added that the withdrawal process could still be halted before it is finalized.
Meanwhile, tensions around the ICC’s actions have drawn international reactions. The United States has imposed sanctions on several ICC judges and prosecutors over the warrants issued against Netanyahu, a move criticized by the United Nations as retaliatory.