https://arab.news/6pa97
- The ICC, the world鈥檚 only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide, issued the arrest warrant in November for Netanyahu
- The ICC has criticized Hungary鈥檚 decision to defy its warrant for Netanyahu
BUDAPEST: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in Hungary鈥檚 capital on Wednesday to meet with the country鈥檚 nationalist prime minister despite an international arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over the war in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu鈥檚 four-day visit to Budapest is a sign of both his close relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n and the latter鈥檚 growing hostility toward international institutions, like the International Criminal Court, of which his country is a member.
Orb谩n, a conservative populist and close Netanyahu ally, has vowed to disregard the ICC warrant against the Israeli leader, accusing the world鈥檚 top war crimes court based in The Hague, Netherlands, of 鈥渋nterfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.鈥�
Members of Orb谩n鈥檚 government have suggested that Hungary, which became a signatory to the court in 2001, could withdraw. Currently, all countries in the 27-member European Union, including Hungary, are signatories, and all members of the court are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil.
The ICC, the world鈥檚 only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide, issued the arrest warrant in November for Netanyahu as well as for his former defense minister and Hamas鈥� military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza after the Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed during the Israeli military鈥檚 response.
The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant used 鈥渟tarvation as a method of warfare鈥� by restricting humanitarian aid, and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel鈥檚 campaign against Hamas in Gaza 鈥� charges that Israeli officials deny.
The ICC has criticized Hungary鈥檚 decision to defy its warrant for Netanyahu. The court鈥檚 spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, said that it鈥檚 not for parties to the ICC 鈥渢o unilaterally determine the soundness of the Court鈥檚 legal decisions.鈥�
Participating states have an obligation to enforce the court鈥檚 decisions, El Ebdallah told The Associated Press in an email, and may consult with the court if they disagree with its rulings.
鈥淎ny dispute concerning the judicial functions of the Court shall be settled by the decision of the Court,鈥� El Abdallah said.
Orb谩n, who has been the EU鈥檚 most intransigent spoiler in the bloc鈥檚 decision-making, is seen as a pioneer of some of the same tactics that Netanyahu has been accused of employing in Israel: subjugation of the judiciary, antagonism toward the European Union and cracking down on civil society and human rights groups.
Longtime allies and fellow practitioners of 鈥渋lliberal鈥� governance 鈥� a term adopted by Orb谩n that denotes a rejection of the tenets of liberal democracy 鈥� the two leaders are also allied with US President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order in February imposing sanctions on the ICC over its investigations of Israel.
Orb谩n鈥檚 government has said that Trump鈥檚 return to the White House has enabled it to take measures it was unable to during the administration of former US President Joe Biden 鈥� such as passing legislation to ban LGBTQ+ Pride events in Hungary.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, the head of Global Research, Advocacy and Policy of human rights group Amnesty International, said in a statement that Hungary 鈥渕ust arrest (Netanyahu) if he travels to the country and hand him over to the Court.鈥�
鈥淗ungary鈥檚 invitation shows contempt for international law and confirms that alleged war criminals wanted by the ICC are welcome on the streets of a European Union member state,鈥� Guevara-Rosas said.
Liz Evenson, international justice director at rights group Human Rights Watch, said that Hungary allowing Netanyahu鈥檚 visit was a breach of Hungary鈥檚 ICC obligations, and 鈥渨ould be Orban鈥檚 latest assault on the rule of law, adding to the country鈥檚 dismal record on rights.鈥�
鈥淎ll ICC member countries need to make clear they expect Hungary to abide by its obligations to the court, and that they will do the same,鈥� Evenson said.
In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Putin visited Mongolia, which is also a member of the ICC, in September last year, but he wasn鈥檛 arrested. Last year, judges found that the country failed to uphold its legal obligations and referred the matter to the court鈥檚 oversight body.