Budapest: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest early Thursday for an official visit, despite an active arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, commenced a four-day state visit to Hungary. Although his itinerary remains undisclosed, he is anticipated to engage with Hungary’s senior officials during his stay.
This visit to Hungary marks Netanyahu’s first venture onto European soil since the ICC issued an arrest warrant in November last year, accusing him of war crimes in Gaza. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have urged Hungary to detain Netanyahu and surrender him to the ICC.
The ICC’s arrest warrants, issued last November, target Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is embroiled in a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military operations in Gaza, where it has reportedly resulted in over 50,400 deaths since the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.