Human Rights Watch urges Hungary to arrest Netanyahu ahead of visit

2026-03-21 - 10:30

Human Rights Watch has issued an urgent call for Hungarian authorities to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he set foot in the country, as the Israeli leader prepares for a visit beginning Saturday. The rights organization emphasized that despite Hungary’s formal notification of intent to withdraw from the International Criminal Court treaty, the country remains a member state until the withdrawal takes effect on June 2. “Despite its move to leave the ICC, Hungary is still a member country and is still obligated to arrest and surrender individuals wanted by the court,” said Alice Autin, international justice researcher at Human Rights Watch. She warned that failing to act would mark the second time in less than a year that Budapest has disregarded its ICC obligations. Netanyahu, along with former defense minister Yoav Gallant, has been subject to an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza since October 2023. Both remain wanted by the court. Netanyahu previously visited Hungary in April 2025 without facing arrest, a decision that drew sharp criticism from international legal experts and civil society groups. Human Rights Watch also condemned ongoing Israeli military operations across the region, including strikes in Lebanon, Gaza, and against Iran, stressing the urgent need for adherence to international law and credible judicial avenues. The organization called on European Union member states and ICC parties to pressure Hungary to reverse its withdrawal and cooperate fully with the court. “Silence and persistent inaction from the EU risks sending a dangerous message of acquiescence as the Israeli government continues to be responsible for atrocities,” Autin added. The visit comes just weeks before Hungary’s April 12 general elections, adding political dimensions to the diplomatic encounter. Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 172,000 injured, with approximately 90 percent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure destroyed. Despite a truce in October 2025, daily attacks have continued, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting at least 677 additional Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire.