Péter Magyar, the leader of the Tisza Party and prospective Prime Minister of Hungary, has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. However, Magyar warned that if Netanyahu visits Hungary, he would face arrest due to an existing warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This information was reported by Hungarian media outlet 444.hu. During a press conference on April 20, Magyar confirmed that he invited Netanyahu to Budapest during a phone call, but emphasized that this invitation was not exclusive.
“I have invited all heads of state, whether prime ministers or presidents, to the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution,” Magyar stated.
Netanyahu’s office had previously announced the invitation, although some observers expressed skepticism about its authenticity.
Magyar clarified that he had made it clear to Netanyahu that Hungary remains a member of the ICC. The court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
In April 2025, Viktor Orbán initiated Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC, but the process has not yet been finalized. Magyar noted that the new government would only need to halt the withdrawal process, eliminating the need to rejoin the court.
When asked to reconcile the apparent contradiction of inviting Netanyahu while warning of potential arrest, Magyar stated that the Israeli Prime Minister is aware of the legal implications.
“I have not hidden anything. If someone is a member of the International Criminal Court and a person for whom an arrest warrant has been issued arrives in our country, they must be detained,” said Magyar.
In response to inquiries about whether he communicated this directly to Netanyahu, Magyar replied that he does not need to explain everything over the phone and assumes that heads of state are familiar with the relevant legal norms.
Previously, Magyar has emphasized the special relationship between Israel and Hungary, asserting a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-Semitism. He also indicated that his party would evaluate EU decisions separately, based on what is in the interest of Hungary and the truth.
Péter Magyar, the leader of Hungary's Tisza Party, has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a significant anniversary event while warning of a potential arrest due to an ICC warrant. This situation underscores the complex legal and diplomatic challenges faced by Hungary as it navigates its international commitments.