Israel's Netanyahu in Budapest despite international arrest warrant as Hungary says it will quit ICC
The Hindu
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu receives red carpet treatment in Hungary despite ICC warrant, sparking Hungary's withdrawal from the court.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary’s capital early on Thursday (April 3, 2025) to red carpet treatment despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the world’s top war crimes court.
It was only the second foreign trip Mr. Netanyahu has made since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued the warrant against him in November.
As Mr. Netanyahu arrived in Budapest, Hungary said it will begin the procedure of withdrawing from the ICC.
“Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court,” Gergely Gulyás — Prime Minister Viktor Orbán chief of staff — wrote in a brief statement. “The government will initiate the withdrawal procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal framework.”
Mr. Netanyahu was greeted with full military honours in the Castle District of the capital Budapest, where he stood alongside Mr. Orbán as a military band played and processions of soldiers on horseback and carrying swords and bayoneted rifles passed by.
The two leaders were set to hold talks later on Thursday (April 3). Mr. Netanyahu will spend several days in Hungary before departing on Sunday (April 6).
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, said there was reason to believe Mr. Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas — charges that Israeli officials deny.
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