Israeli PM Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Budapest: major traffic restrictions, ICC arrest warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in Budapest on 2 April for an official visit to Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán invited him despite the fact that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him in November, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.

Purpose and background of the visit

During Netanyahu’s visit, the main topics of discussion with Orbán will include deepening cooperation between the two countries in defence, innovation, energy, and trade. Regional security and developments in the Middle East will also be on the agenda.

Another key aspect of the visit is Netanyahu’s intention to secure Hungary’s support for Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. In February, Trump presented a vision to transform Gaza into a Mediterranean resort area, a proposal that has been widely disputed and deemed controversial.

The ICC Arrest Warrant and Hungary’s Position

According to Bloomberg, despite the ICC’s arrest warrant, Orbán previously stated that Hungary would not execute it and would not impede Netanyahu’s visit. This decision is controversial, given that Hungary is a signatory to and has ratified the ICC Statute, which in principle obliges it to enforce the court’s decisions.

Reactions of Human Rights Organisations

Amnesty International has called on Hungary to arrest Netanyahu and hand him over to the ICC. The human rights organisation emphasises that Netanyahu’s visit disregards the suffering of Palestinian victims and that the silence and inaction of the international community are unacceptable.

Palestinian Ambassador in Budapest Seeks Official Clarification on Netanyahu’s Potential Visit

Amid reports of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s possible visit to Hungary, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Dr Fadi Elhusseini, met with Mr Lastofka János, Director General for the Middle East and North Africa, at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting, which was held at the Palestinian Ambassador’s request in accordance with instructions from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, aimed to clarify Hungary’s position on the visit. It is expected to take place despite widespread international opposition, especially following the International Criminal Court’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

During the meeting, Ambassador Elhusseini presented the official Palestinian stance, emphasising that discussions of Netanyahu’s visit—given his direct responsibility for the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the injury of more than 120,000 others, most of them children, women, and the elderly, along with the deliberate destruction of infrastructure and civilian facilities—require an official clarification from the Hungarian side and the presentation of Palestine’s position on these developments.

Additionally, Ambassador Elhusseini has engaged in a series of meetings and communications with ambassadors of various countries and civil society representatives to present the official Palestinian position and gather perspectives on the visit. Meanwhile, the Palestinian community in Hungary has issued a statement expressing strong rejection of Netanyahu’s visit.

Stage-by-stage and temporary closures

• Between 19:00 on 2 April and 01:00 on 3 April, the route Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport 2 – M4 – M0 – M3 motorway entrance – Kacsóh Pongrác útti flyover – Kós Károly sétány – Hősök tere – Andrássy út – József Attila utca – Széchenyi István tér.
• On 3 April between 07:00 and 10:00, the route Széchenyi István tér – Lánchíd – Clark Ádám tér – Lánchíd utca – Ybl Miklós tér – Apród utca – Szarvas tér – Attila út – Dózsa György tér – Palota út – Dísz tér – Szent György utca.
• Between 11:30 and 14:30, the route Theatre Street – Dísz Square – Palace Road – Dózsa György Square – Attila Road – Szarvas Square – Apród Street – Ybl Miklós Square – Chain Bridge Street – Chain Bridge – Széchenyi István Square.
• Between 12:30 and 16:30, the route Széchenyi István tér – Eötvös tér – Id. Antall József quay – Markó utca driveway – Markó utca – Balassi Bálint utca – Kossuth tér – Garibaldi utca driveway – Id. Antall József quay – Eötvös tér – Széchenyi István tér.
• On 6 April between 07:00 and 10:00, the route Széchenyi István tér – József Attila utca – Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út – Andrássy út – Hősök tere – Kós Károly sétány – Kacsóh Pongrác útti overpass – M3 exit – M3 – M0 – M4 – Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport 2.

Summary

Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest is a significant diplomatic event that has sparked both support and opposition. While Hungary continues to maintain its position of non-compliance with the ICC arrest warrant, international human rights organisations and Palestinian representatives strongly oppose the visit. Meanwhile, the planned visit will lead to extensive traffic restrictions across the city, impacting residents and commuters alike.