---
title: "Israel's Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying ICC arrest warrant"
description: "JERUSALEM, March 30 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary this week, his office said on Sunday, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued over allegations of war crimes in Gaza."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-30-israels-netanyahu-to-visit-hungary-defying-icc-arrest-warrant/"
published: "2025-03-30T21:06:25"
updated: "2025-03-30T21:06:27"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 175
---

# Israel's Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying ICC arrest warrant

> JERUSALEM, March 30 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary this week, his office said on Sunday, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

By Reuters · Published 30 March 2025, 23:06 SAST · Updated 30 March 2025, 23:06 SAST

## Key points
- As Netanyahu prepares for a cozy chat with Hungary's Orban—who famously flouts the ICC arrest warrant like a bad fashion trend—one can't help but wonder if they're plotting a new chapter in the "How to Ignore International Law" handbook.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to visit Hungary from Wednesday to Sunday, meeting with Viktor Orban.
- Orban previously stated that the ICC's arrest warrant against Netanyahu would "not be observed."
- Hungary, an EU member, is obligated to enforce ICC warrants, despite Orban's contentious stance on EU standards.
- This marks Netanyahu's second international trip since the ICC issued warrants, following a visit to Washington in February.

## Content

During the visit, due to begin on Wednesday and run until Sunday, Netanyahu will meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, who invited him in November, soon after the ICC issued the [arrest warrant](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3EQ0J7&linkedFromStory=true).

Orban said at the time that the warrant would "[not be observed](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3OC09T&linkedFromStory=true)".

All European Union member states, including Hungary, are members of the ICC, which means they are required to enforce its warrants. Orban, a right-wing nationalist, has often been at odds with the EU over democratic standards and human rights in Hungary.

There was no immediate comment by Hungary about this week's visit.

It will be Netanyahu's second trip abroad since the ICC announced the warrants, following a [visit](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3OT01Z&linkedFromStory=true) to Washington in February to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel has [denounced](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3JG08L&linkedFromStory=true) the warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, describing the allegations as "false and absurd". The ICC has also issued a warrant for the arrest of a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Alexandra Hudson and Helen Popper)