DayofPal– Amnesty International has urged Hungary to arrest and surrender Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should he proceed with his planned visit to Budapest on Wednesday.
The human rights organization warned that hosting Netanyahu without enforcing the ICC’s arrest warrant would constitute a violation of international law and embolden further crimes against Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s upcoming trip marks his first visit to a nation that is a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute since the court issued an arrest warrant against him in November 2024.
The ICC has accused the Israeli leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing allegations such as: The use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza, Intentionally targeting civilians, Engaging in acts of murder, persecution, and other inhumane offenses.
Despite the gravity of these accusations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has assured Netanyahu that he will not face arrest, reaffirming Hungary’s rejection of the ICC’s decision.
Orbán’s government was among the first to dismiss the warrant as a “disgraceful decision,” positioning itself in firm opposition to the court’s ruling.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s head of Global Research, Advocacy, and Policy, sharply criticized Hungary’s stance, emphasizing that hosting Netanyahu without enforcement would undermine the ICC’s authority.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal,” she asserted. “Any visit to an ICC member state that does not result in his arrest only reinforces a culture of impunity and signals a disregard for international justice.”
Guevara-Rosas further warned that failure to act on the warrant would betray the ICC’s fundamental mission of holding world leaders accountable for crimes that “shock the human conscience.”
While Hungary has assured Netanyahu of his safety, Amnesty International highlighted that his travel route could still expose him to potential arrest. His flight path may traverse airspace controlled by other ICC member states, some of which have signaled their willingness to detain him upon entry.
Meanwhile, other major ICC signatories, including France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, have indicated that they would not enforce the arrest warrant. The United States has gone even further, imposing sanctions on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in retaliation for pursuing charges against Israeli officials.
Amnesty International has called on the ICC to resist political interference and reaffirm its commitment to prosecuting those responsible for grave international crimes. The organization also urged Hungary to fulfill its legal obligations and apply universal jurisdiction in prosecuting alleged Israeli war crimes.
“Leaders like Netanyahu must no longer enjoy perpetual impunity,” Amnesty stated, reinforcing its call for the ICC to assert its authority and ensure justice is served.
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