During Netanyahu's visit, ICC demanded that Hungary arrest him

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves for the U.S. after his visit to Hungary. — Photo: Government press office

The International Criminal Court (ICC) reportedly issued a formal demand to Hungary to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged “war crimes” in Gaza, a request that surfaced just hours after he arrived in Budapest on Thursday, according to Channel 12. Instead of complying, Hungary’s government swiftly rebuffed the ICC’s directive and took the dramatic step of declaring its withdrawal from the court entirely.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, was in the midst of a four-day visit to the Hungarian capital, personally invited earlier this year by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. His itinerary included discussions with Orban, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, and local business figures, all aimed at bolstering economic and security ties between the two nations.

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On Sunday, as he prepared to leave Budapest for Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu lauded Hungary’s bold move to exit the ICC. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Hungary defends us in the European Union. It defends us in the UN, and no less than that, in the corrupt International Criminal Court in The Hague, which is directed against all of us—against IDF soldiers, IDF commanders, and the State of Israel.”

The ICC’s request had cast a shadow over his visit, but Hungary’s rejection underscored its staunch support for Israel amid international pressure. Netanyahu’s next stop in Washington highlights his role as the first world leader invited to discuss Trump’s new global tariffs, which slapped a hefty 17% duty on Israeli goods—a point of contention alongside other pressing matters.

These include negotiations for a hostage release deal, the state of Israel-Turkey relations, and strategies to counter what he calls the ICC’s smear campaign against Israeli leadership. His praise for Hungary’s “historic decision” reflects a deepening alliance, while his U.S. talks signal the broader geopolitical stakes at play, from trade disputes to regional security challenges.