Hungary must arrest Netanyahu if he visits, Magyar says
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar stated that Hungary must arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters Hungarian territory while wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and member countries are generally obliged to detain individuals subject to such warrants.
- Hungary, under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had withdrawn from the ICC and guaranteed Netanyahu immunity during his April 2025 visit, but Magyar plans to halt the withdrawal process by June 2, maintaining Hungary’s ICC membership.
- Magyar emphasized that as an ICC member, Hungary is obligated to detain Netanyahu if he visits, contrasting with other countries like France, Germany, and Italy, which have cited diplomatic immunity or other agreements to avoid arresting Netanyahu.
- The situation highlights differing interpretations of ICC obligations among member states, with some prioritizing diplomatic immunity over enforcing ICC arrest warrants.
