Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has said his government would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country, as he moves to keep Hungary within the International Criminal Court.

Mr Magyar, who is set to end the 16-year rule of Viktor Orban following his historic election victory earlier this month, said he would halt the country’s planned withdrawal from the ICC.

Maintaining Hungary’s membership of the court means individuals wanted by the body could be arrested if they enter its territory.

Speaking at a news briefing in Budapest, Mr Magyar said he had “made this clear” to Mr Netanyahu, who has been wanted over alleged war crimes in Gaza since 2024.

Mr Orban had announced Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC last year, partly in protest against the arrest warrant issued for the Israeli leader.

The withdrawal was due to take effect on 2 June, a move that would have made Hungary the only European Union country not to recognise the court’s jurisdiction. However, Mr Magyar, leader of the centre-right Tisza party, said his administration would reverse the decision.

“I believe that if the country is a member of the International Criminal Court, and a person who is wanted by the court enters our territory, then that person must be taken into custody,” he added, with reference to Mr Netanyahu.

The warrant for Mr Netanyahu was strongly criticised at the time by former US president Joe Biden, while his successor Donald Trump has continued to back the Israeli prime minister.

The United States is not a member of the ICC, and Mr Netanyahu has visited Washington and Mr Trump’s Florida estate several times, including ahead of launching the war against Iran.

Both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu have been close allies of Mr Orban and had hoped he would remain in power before his landslide election defeat.

(Sky News)

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