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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant, 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 would not comply with the ICC’s arrest warrant.

Netanyahu will stay abroad during the Sabbath, considered a sacred day for Jews. On May 20, 2024, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Ahmad Khan, requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and crimes against humanity.

The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague had examined Israel’s request on September 26, 2024, to “not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and suspend the arrest warrant process for Netanyahu and Gallant.”

On November 21, 2024, the court had unanimously rejected Israel’s jurisdictional objections and issued an arrest warrant for 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 had stated that they rejected the decision and questioned the legitimacy of the court.

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