The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has an arrest warrant, is heading to Hungary. Netanyahu will meet with Prime Minister Orban, who guarantees that he will not comply with the order.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), is leaving the country.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu will travel to Hungary on Wednesday evening. Netanyahu will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously guaranteed that he will not comply with the ICC’s arrest order.

Netanyahu will stay abroad over the Jewish holy day of Shabbat. ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan had requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on May 20, 2024, for war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and crimes against humanity.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I in The Hague had examined Israel’s request on September 26, 2024, to “disregard the court’s jurisdiction and halt the arrest warrant proceedings against Netanyahu and Gallant.”

On November 21, 2024, the Court unanimously rejected Israel’s jurisdictional objections and issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity under Articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute.

US officials stated that they rejected the decision and questioned the legitimacy of the court.

Orban, on the other hand, announced that he would not comply with the arrest warrant and would invite Netanyahu to the country.