The European Commission has issued a strong warning to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after he announced plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary and disregard an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Věra Jourová, the Commission’s vice president for values and transparency, emphasized that ignoring the warrant would violate Hungary’s international obligations and harm its global reputation.
The ICC has accused Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing their roles in restricting humanitarian aid and targeting civilians during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Additionally, the court has placed a warrant on Mohammed Deif, a Hamas military commander, though his status remains uncertain following reports of his death by Israeli forces.
Orbán, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, dismissed the ICC’s decision as “cynical” and “political,” pledging that Netanyahu would face no consequences during his visit to Hungary. Orbán’s stance breaks with most EU nations, which have pledged to honor the ICC’s decisions as signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that underpins the court’s jurisdiction.
Jourová criticized Orbán’s defiance, reminding Hungary of its legal commitments under the Rome Statute. “Ignoring the warrant will constitute a clear breach of international agreements,” she told Euronews. She also warned that such actions would tarnish Hungary’s reputation on the global stage. A European Commission spokesperson reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for the ICC, stating that all member states are obligated to enforce its rulings.
This isn’t Orbán’s first controversial engagement with ICC-targeted leaders. In July, he faced backlash for meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is also under an ICC warrant for war crimes related to Ukraine.
While Hungary’s stance has drawn criticism, other EU countries have responded with varying degrees of skepticism. Austria and the Czech Republic have expressed reservations about the ICC’s charges, and Germany has given mixed signals, with government officials avoiding definitive commitments on potential arrests.
As tensions over the ICC’s decisions grow, Hungary’s position underscores the ongoing challenges of enforcing international criminal justice within the EU.
