Hungary is set to receive the Israeli prime minister on Wednesday, despite a warrant by the International Criminal Court for his arrest. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor is condemning the move, Al Jazeera reports.
In a post on X, the Geneva-based group said that Hungary, as a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the ICC, is “legally bound to cooperate fully” with the court’s warrants.
It said Hungarian President Viktor Orban’s decision not to enforce the warrant constitutes a “serious breach” of Hungary’s obligations under the Rome Statute.
“By hosting Netanyahu, Hungary is not merely failing to comply with international law—it is providing haven to a fugitive wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is not diplomatic neutrality. It is active complicity that grants impunity to someone who ought to be brought to justice,” it said.
And if other countries fail to hold Hungary accountable, they would “weaken the Court” and “abandon the victims of Gaza to impunity”, the rights group added.
Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes in Gaza, including for depriving the civilian population of the Strip of food, water and medical supplies.