Hungary PM defies ICC arrest warrant by inviting Netanyahu over, Israel PM responds

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on Friday (Nov 22) extended an invitation to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the European country in open defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). While speaking to state radio, Orban accused the ICC of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.”

Netanyahu in response thanked Orban for “moral clarity” on the issue, saying Hungary stood strong “by the side of justice and truth”.

The ICC issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant earlier on Thursday, accusing the duo of using “starvation as a method of warfare”. The move was immediately slammed by like-minded nations like the United States, Austria and Argentina but Hungary went a step ahead by inviting Netanyahu over.

Orban termed the ICC’s warrant “outrageously impudent” and “cynical,” saying he would “defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him.”

It is to be noted that ICC member nations are required to abide by the warrants and detain suspects the moment they set foot on their soil. However, the court lacks the ways to enforce its rulings.

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The United Kingdom and European Union have said they are bound by the ICC charter and hinted that they would detain Netanyahu once he enters their territory.

“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law,” a statement by Downing Street read. The EU on Thursday said the warrants against Israeli leaders were not political and should be respected.

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“This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision,” said the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Israel on the other hand labelled the move as “antisemitic” in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)