As a signatory to the ICC's basic document, the Rome Statute, Hungary is legally bound to arrest Israel's prime minister when he visits the country starting today.
Instead, Hungary is expected to announce that it is leaving the ICC, reports The Times of Israel.
The trip to Hungary is Netanyahu's first to a European country since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last year. According to the warrant, they are to be arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. They are suspected, among other things, of intentionally attacking civilians and using starvation as a weapon by restricting the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel has rejected the allegations and called the court's decision "anti-Semitic".
Orbán – one of Netanyahu's closest allies in the EU – has previously guaranteed Israel that Hungary will ignore the ICC's order. The two leaders will meet in Budapest on Thursday.
Among others, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged Hungary to deny Netanyahu entry into the country – or arrest him when he arrives.
"Orbán's invitation to Netanyahu is an insult to the victims of serious crimes. Hungary should comply with its legal obligations as a party to the ICC and arrest Netanyahu if he sets foot in the country," says HRW's Liz Evenson.
