Rudolph Angler The European Commission has delivered a sharp rebuke to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following his announcement to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary while disregarding an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Orbán’s stance has been labeled a breach of Hungary’s international commitments, with Věra Jourová, the Commission’s Vice President for Values and Transparency, emphasizing the potential harm to Hungary’s reputation. “Responsible politicians respect their international obligations,” Jourová told Euronews.
The ICC recently accused Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, of war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing actions taken during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including limiting humanitarian aid and targeting civilians. The court also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, whom Israel claims to have killed.
Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, dismissed the ICC’s actions as politically motivated and pledged that Netanyahu would not face consequences in Hungary. This defiance stands in contrast to most EU nations, which have agreed to honor the ICC’s arrest warrant.
Hungary, like all EU member states, is a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. Jourová stressed that ignoring the warrant would constitute a clear violation of Hungary’s treaty obligations. “Such breaches damage a country’s reputation internationally,” she noted, underscoring the importance of upholding commitments to global justice.
A European Commission spokesperson affirmed the EU’s commitment to the ICC’s principles, stating that all Rome Statute parties are required to execute arrest warrants.
Hungary is not alone in expressing reservations about the ICC’s move. Austria and the Czech Republic have also been critical, while Germany has issued mixed signals, with officials offering cautious or ambiguous responses.
This is not Orbán’s first controversial engagement with an ICC-wanted figure. Earlier this year, he faced criticism for meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is also subject to an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.