Netanyahu arrives in Budapest, despite ICC arrest warrant over Gaza war crimes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest early Thursday for a four-day official visit, despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.

Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, is expected to meet with Hungary's top officials, although his specific schedule in the Hungarian capital has not been disclosed.

This visit marks Netanyahu’s first trip to European soil since the ICC issued the arrest warrant in November 2024. The charges against him relate to war crimes committed in Gaza, where Israel has been accused of carrying out actions leading to the deaths of over 50,400 people since October 2023.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on Hungary to arrest Netanyahu and hand him over to the ICC. Hungary, a member of the International Criminal Court, has not yet responded to these calls.

The ICC’s arrest warrants also target Netanyahu’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with the ongoing war crimes investigation.

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