Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Hungary from April 2–6 for an official visit, marking his second international trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him last November over alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict.

The visit comes at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a long-time ally of Netanyahu. Hungary has made it clear that it will not enforce the ICC warrant, despite being a signatory to the Rome Statute, which obligates member states to carry out ICC decisions. Orbán previously said his country does not recognize the arrest warrant and reaffirmed his support for Netanyahu.

The ICC’s arrest warrants, announced in November 2024, named Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri. The move was widely condemned by Israel and several of its allies, with Netanyahu calling the accusations “absurd” and politically motivated.

Netanyahu’s trip to Hungary follows his high-profile meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington earlier this year. The Hungarian visit is expected to include bilateral meetings focused on strengthening ties in areas such as defense, trade, and innovation. It also highlights Netanyahu’s growing alignment with nationalist leaders in Europe who have been critical of international institutions.

While Hungary has openly defied the ICC’s authority, other European Union countries have stated they would be obligated to detain Netanyahu if he set foot on their soil. This upcoming visit to Budapest could further expose fault lines within the EU over compliance with international law and deepen tensions between Brussels and Budapest.

For Netanyahu, the trip serves as a statement of resilience amid mounting legal and political pressure, while for Orbán, it reinforces Hungary’s position as a staunch supporter of Israel.