ICC arrest warrant: Netanyahu invited to visit Hungary again

Last Updated on January 24, 2025 6:38 am

Hungary has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Budapest again. The country said it would not execute the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu. Hungary had previously stated this position.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Hungary’s position during a diplomatic visit to Budapest.

“The ICC is political and corrupt… Such a decision against a democratic country that is fighting terrorism and operating under the international and rule of law is unprecedented,” he told a joint press conference with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.

Earlier, after the ICC issued the arrest warrant, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that his country would not execute it and invited Netanyahu to visit.

“The invitation to Netanyahu remains open and Hungary strongly criticizes the ICC decision,” Szijjarto said at the press conference.

“This decision calls into question the credibility of the ICC and also questions its future cooperation with Hungary,” he said.

Sa’ar also discussed the case of Hungarian-Israeli citizen Omri Miran, who is still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Omri is not included in the first round of 33 hostages whose release began on Sunday.

“Since the ceasefire agreement is taking effect, the imprisoned Hungarian citizen may have a chance to be released,” Szijjarto said in a statement on social media.

Hungary, a member of the European Union, has often sided with Netanyahu in international forums, especially in the context of Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Sa’ar was scheduled to visit Hungary last week after a previous trip to Italy, but cut short his trip and returned to Israel to attend a cabinet vote on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.