Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Friday that he had invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit, declaring that the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) “will not be enforced” on Hungarian soil.
The ICC accuses Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Ibrahim Al-Masri, a leader of the Hamas terrorist group, has also been indicted on the same charges, as previously reported by TGP.
Orbán sharply criticized the ICC’s decision, assuring Netanyahu that he would face no risks during a visit to Hungary. The Hungarian PM described the arrest warrants as “a blatant, cynical, and utterly unacceptable” move. Orbán, often at odds with his European Union peers, has cultivated a strong relationship with Netanyahu, according to Reuters.
In a local radio interview, Orbán stated:
“I invited the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary, and in this invitation, I assured him that if he comes, the ICC decision will have no effect in Hungary, and we will not comply with its content.”
The #ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister @netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety. pic.twitter.com/uRDoP307uL
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 22, 2024
He further condemned the warrant as “wrong” and reiterated that Netanyahu would be fully secure in engaging in diplomatic talks in Hungary.
Orbán and Netanyahu share close ties, with their political collaboration dating back to Orbán’s rise to power in 2010. Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest in 2017 marked a significant milestone, strengthening the bond between Israel and Hungary, one of Israel’s staunchest supporters within the European Union (EU).
The Czech Republic has also voiced its concerns over the ICC ruling. While Prague has acknowledged its obligation to comply with international legal commitments, it has openly criticized the court’s actions.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala remarked:
“The unfortunate ICC decision undermines its authority in other cases by equating elected representatives of a democratic state with leaders of an Islamic terrorist organization.”
Nešťastné rozhodnutí ICC oslabuje autoritu v jiných případech, když dává na stejnou úroveň zvolené představitele demokratického státu a předáky islamistické teroristické organizace.
— Petr Fiala (@P_Fiala) November 21, 2024
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