Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Hungary this week, despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This visit, scheduled from Wednesday to Sunday, comes at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Netanyahu’s trip was announced by his office on Sunday. It marks his second foreign visit since the ICC issued warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In February, Netanyahu traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Orban, known for his right-wing nationalist stance, has previously dismissed the ICC’s warrant and made it clear that Hungary will not enforce it. This aligns with his often contentious relationship with the European Union regarding democratic standards. While Hungary is an EU member and is generally expected to comply with ICC decisions, there has been no official comment from Budapest about Netanyahu’s upcoming visit.
According to reports, Netanyahu intends to use this trip to seek support from Hungary for Trump’s controversial plan for Gaza, which aims to reshape the region significantly. This plan, unveiled by Trump in February, has drawn criticism for its goal of displacing Palestinians and converting Gaza into a Mediterranean resort.
Although Hungary has not publicly responded to Trump’s proposal, Netanyahu’s visit suggests he is looking to gather international backing for it. Israel has consistently denied the charges against its leaders, labeling them as "false and absurd." The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri in connection with the ongoing conflict.
As Netanyahu prepares for this significant visit, the international community will be watching closely to see how it unfolds and what implications it may have for the situation in Gaza and broader regional dynamics.