Israel’s Netanyahu heads to Hungary in defiance of ICC arrest warrant
Al JazeeraMAR 30
Hungary Welcomes Netanyahu Amid ICC Withdrawal Announcement
Above: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (R) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) in in Budapest, Hungary, on April 3, 2025. Image copyright: Janos Kummer/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
The ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was an outrageous attempt to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense. By inviting Netanyahu for a visit and moving to withdraw from the ICC, Viktor Orbán is not only acknowledging this fact but also demonstrating his credentials as a steadfast ally of Israel, willing to make a stand against unjust international pressure.
Anti-Israel narrative
Hungary’s defiance of the ICC arrest warrant, coupled with Orban’s disgraceful withdrawal from the court, severely undermines international law and accountability for alleged war crimes. These actions set a dangerous precedent that could allow powerful nations to abuse the weak and evade justice, further threatening the global system of human rights protection.