Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dodges war crimes arrest in Hungary visit
Hungary is beginning the process of quitting the International Criminal Court, rejecting calls for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds it claims it is a ‘political’ organisation. Their ceremonious meeting happened as gazan were dying in the Palestinian enclave with another bloody ground and air offensive underway.
The announcement came as the beleaguered Israeli leader arrived for red carpet treatment on a state visit in capital Budapest despite a war-crimes warrant outstanding for him. Both he and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant face arrest following calls by the ICC officials – allegations which both men deny.
Deaths of Gazans continued with a renewed ground and air assault on the Strip and it emerged 1,163 have died since Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The allegations include starvation as a method of warfare – in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. Dozens were reported killed on Thursday including six members of the same family as Netanyahu was enjoying a visit to see Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In Syria nine people died in Israeli strikes throughout the country and Israeli forces fought with militant group HTS – which led the uprising which toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad. Hungary will begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, an official said Thursday, just as Netanyahu arrived and received full military honours.
The two close allies stood side by side as a military band played and an elaborate procession of soldiers on horseback and carrying swords and bayoneted rifles marched by. As the ceremony unfolded, Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, released a brief statement saying that “the government will initiate the withdrawal procedure” for leaving the court, which could take a year or more to complete.
Orban later said that he believes the ICC is “a political court.” Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary, which is scheduled to last until Sunday, was only his second foreign trip since the ICC issued the warrant in November.
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, said when issuing its warrant that there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had committed crimes.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most of them have since been released in ceasefire agreements and other deals. Israel rescued eight living hostages and has recovered dozens of bodies.
The ICC also issued arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders who were later killed. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. After the ICC issued the warrant, Orban invited Netanyahu to Budapest, and accused the court of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.”
That invitation was in open defiance of the court’s ruling and contradicted Hungary’s obligations as a signatory to arrest any suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil. All countries in the 27-member European Union, including Hungary, are signatories, but the court relies on member countries to enforce its rulings. Hungary joined the court in 2001 during Orban’s first term as prime minister.
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