Hungary Netanyahu due to visit in spite of ICC warrant

Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin a four-day official visit to Hungary today, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has set foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

- Ashifa Kassam

Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters he would guarantee that the ICC's ruling would "have no effect in Hungary".

Hungary has been a signatory of the ICC since the court was launched more than two decades ago, signing up to the requirement to arrest and hand over anyone facing a court warrant if they enter the country.

In recent days, sources in Orbán's government have reportedly floated the possibility of withdrawing from the court.

The visit comes after Netanyahu said Israel was "seizing territory" and intended to "divide up" the Gaza Strip, two weeks after it ended a fragile ceasefire with renewed bombing and the deployment of ground troops across the Palestinian territory.