Hungary PM-elect vows ICC compliance, warns Netanyahu of arrest risk on entry

Hungary’s prime minister-elect Péter Magyar has said his government will enforce International Criminal Court (ICC) obligations and detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters Hungarian territory while subject to an arrest warrant.

Speaking on 20 April 2026 at a news briefing in Budapest, Magyar stated that remaining within the ICC framework carries clear legal responsibilities.

“If a country is a member of the International Criminal Court, and a person who is wanted by the court enters our territory, then that person must be taken into custody,” he said.

His remarks signal a sharp policy shift following his election victory earlier in April, which ended Viktor Orban’s 16-year tenure. Magyar leads the centre-right Tisza party and is expected to take office in early May.

Reversal of ICC withdrawal

Magyar confirmed that his administration will halt Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC, a process initiated in 2025 under Orban.

The withdrawal had been scheduled to take effect on 2 June 2026, which would have made Hungary the only European Union country outside the court’s jurisdiction.

“Our team has looked into it, and we will stop it,” Magyar said.

He added that legal advisers had determined the withdrawal process was not yet complete and could be suspended before the deadline.

Magyar indicated that the final steps required to leave the court could simply be halted once his government assumes office.

This would ensure Hungary remains bound by ICC statutes, including obligations to enforce arrest warrants.

The ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict. Member states are, in principle, required to detain individuals subject to such warrants if they enter their territory.

Warning to Netanyahu

Magyar said he had already communicated Hungary’s legal position directly to Netanyahu.

“I made this clear to the Israeli prime minister as well,” he said, adding that it was his government’s “firm intention” to maintain ICC membership.

The issue gained renewed attention after Israel’s ambassador to Hungary invited Netanyahu to attend commemorations marking the failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising later this year. Netanyahu has reportedly accepted the invitation.

Responding to questions about the potential visit, Magyar said: “Every leader is welcome to attend this important commemoration. We have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s rulings, and I’m sure he knows this.”

Previous government stance

Hungary had previously refused to act on the ICC warrant during Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest in April 2025. At the time, Orban, a close political ally of Netanyahu, publicly guaranteed him immunity.

Orban also announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC shortly before that visit, citing disagreement with the court’s decision to issue the warrant. The withdrawal process requires one year to take effect after formal notification to the United Nations secretary-general.

Magyar’s position marks a clear departure from Orban’s approach, aligning Hungary more closely with formal ICC obligations rather than political considerations.

International divisions over ICC obligations

The ICC warrant against Netanyahu has drawn mixed responses internationally.

The then United States president Joe Biden criticised the warrant when it was issued, while successor Donald Trump has continued to strongly support Netanyahu.

The United States is not a member of the ICC, and Netanyahu has visited Washington and Trump’s Florida residence multiple times, including ahead of military developments involving Iran.

Among ICC member states, there is no uniform approach to enforcement. Some governments have argued that other international obligations may limit their ability to detain sitting leaders.

France has stated that arresting Netanyahu could conflict with existing agreements with Israel.

Article 98 of the ICC statute provides that countries should not act inconsistently with their obligations regarding diplomatic immunity.

Germany’s then-chancellor Olaf Scholz said in April 2025 that he could not envisage Germany arresting Netanyahu. Italy also opted to grant immunity during a previous visit.