Netanyahu in Hungary: Arrest warrant ignored – Orbán receives Prime Minister!

Netanyahu in Hungary: Arrest warrant ignored – Orbán receives Prime Minister!

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, reached Hungary today, April 3, 2025, despite an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November. He arrived at Budapest airport shortly after 2:30 a.m. and was greeted by Hungary's Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky. Netanyahu arrived for a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban had previously strongly condemned the arrest warrant and invited Netanyahu to visit.

The legal implications are significant. The ICC arrest warrant is related to the events in the Gaza Strip. More than 120 states, including Germany, are obliged to execute the arrest warrant if Netanyahu enters their territory. However, Israel and the USA are not members of the ICC and are therefore not bound. Hungary remains unimpressed by the ICC rulings, having ratified the Rome Statute in 2001 but never officially enacting it due to constitutional concerns.

International reactions

The belief that Netanyahu will not be arrested in Hungary is reinforced by the support of a prominent political actor in Germany. Friedrich Merz, the likely future chancellor, has promised a meeting with Netanyahu in Germany and assured that the Israeli prime minister would not be arrested there. This not only clarifies the political positions within Europe, but also raises questions about the validity of international jurisprudence.

The International Criminal Court, which began its work in 2002, is an independent international organization whose jurisdiction extends to states parties to the Rome Statute. This statute, which was signed by 120 states in 1998, is the basic legal basis for the work of the Court. The ICC's jurisdiction covers the most serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. One of the ICC's main tasks is to complement, rather than replace, national jurisdiction.

The situation surrounding Netanyahu and the ICC highlights the challenges that arise from international cooperation in the field of international law. In particular, there is a principle of complementarity that ensures that the ICC can only take action when states are unwilling or unable to prosecute serious crimes. These framework conditions give rise to complex legal and diplomatic debates that affect both the political relationships between states and the credibility of international bodies.

In this context, Germany's role as an active member state of the ICC also becomes clear. Germany was instrumental in drafting the Rome Statute and is one of the largest contributors to the Court. With a clear legal situation and the adoption of an international criminal code, Germany aims to uphold constitutional principles and fulfill international obligations.

Netanyahu's arrival in Hungary today not only raises questions about the application of international law, but also highlights tensions in the international community, particularly with regard to the prosecution of war crimes and the responsibility of nation states.

While Netanyahu is in Hungary, pressure remains on international institutions such as the ICC to enforce full accountability for human rights violations and uphold the global legal order. These developments represent a crucial test of the authority and effectiveness of international legal norms.

For more information about the ICC and how it works, please visit Foreign Office.

The article is based on reports from Vienna.at.