Hungary will abide by ICC over Netanyahu, says incoming PM

Hungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar said on Monday that he was going to halt his country's departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that he was sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of Hungary's legal obligations under the ICC treaty.

Peter Magyar was asked on Monday about a post made by Israel’s ambassador to Hungary that said he had invited Netanyahu, sought by the ICC on crimes against humanity charges, to Hungary for this year’s commemoration of the country’s failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.

“Every leader is welcome to attend this important commemoration,” Magyar told reporters at a press conference in Budapest on Monday. “We have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s rulings, and I’m sure he knows this,” he added, referring to Netanyahu.

Viktor Orban, who Magyar just defeated in an election, announced Hungary’s departure from the ICC in 2025 shortly before the arrival for a state visit of his close Israeli ally and fellow right-wing nationalist.

But, according to Bloomberg, Magyar said his legal advisers had concluded that the departure process was not yet complete. He said that Budapest’s final steps to leave the court could simply be halted when his government takes office early next month.