Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Hungary this week, his office confirmed on Sunday, in open defiance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The trip, scheduled from Wednesday through Sunday, follows an invitation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who extended the offer last November shortly after the ICC announced the warrant. At the time, Orban made it clear Hungary would not enforce the ICC’s directive.
As an EU member, Hungary is technically obligated to uphold ICC warrants. However, Orban—known for his nationalist stance and frequent clashes with the European Union over democratic norms—has remained silent ahead of Netanyahu’s upcoming visit.
This marks Netanyahu’s second overseas visit since the ICC issued arrest warrants for both him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. His first was a February trip to Washington, where he met with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israel has rejected the ICC’s accusations as “false and absurd.” The court has also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri.