Hungary’s incoming leader Péter Magyar says Netanyahu would be arrested if he visits

Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar has suggested that Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits the country, citing obligations under the International Criminal Court.

Speaking to reporters, Magyar said Hungary would be required to act if it remains part of the ICC system.

“If a country is a member of the International Criminal Court, and a person who is under an arrest warrant enters our territory, then that person must be taken into custody,” he said, according to Reuters.

Magyar also indicated he intends to reverse Hungary’s recent shift away from the ICC and reintegrate the country into the system.

He said he has already communicated this position to Netanyahu.

The comments mark a potential change in policy from outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban  who had built close ties with Netaeyahu’ s government and had been moving Hungary towards leaving the ICC.

Orban hosted Netanyahu in Budapest in 2025. 

Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant are both subject to ICC arrest warrants issued in 2024 over alleged war crimes linked to the conflict in Gaza. Both have denied the allegations.