Hungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he set foot in Hungary, following an invitation Magyar himself extended to the Israeli leader to visit Budapest later this year. The statement marks a sharp reversal from the stance of Magyar's predecessor, the longtime leader Viktor Orbán, who had openly defied international law by welcoming Netanyahu to Hungary last year despite an existing arrest warrant.
The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare during Israel's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. ICC member states are legally obligated to detain individuals subject to such warrants if they enter their territory.
Magyar, whose election victory ended years of dominance by Orbán's government, made clear that Hungary under his leadership would honour its ICC commitments. He also confirmed that Hungary would remain a member of the court — reversing a withdrawal process that Orbán had initiated last year. The withdrawal, which drew international criticism, had been widely seen as a move to shield Netanyahu from legal consequences during a planned visit.
The invitation and the subsequent clarification have put the issue squarely back in the international spotlight. Magyar's position aligns Hungary once again with the majority of European states, which have affirmed their obligation to execute ICC warrants. Several European governments faced intense domestic and diplomatic pressure over whether they would detain Netanyahu if he travelled to their countries.
The case matters beyond Hungary's borders. It tests the practical reach of international criminal justice at a moment when the ICC's authority is under strain, and it underscores the diplomatic complexity faced by governments balancing legal obligations with geopolitical relationships. Magyar's firm public stance signals an intention to restore Hungary's standing within international legal frameworks after years of institutional friction under the previous administration.