LONDON

The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute sent a letter to Hungary ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit, reminding Budapest of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity, referring to the killings of over 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Sharing the letter on X, Paivi Kaukoranta, head of the assembly, stated on Thursday that she sent a letter to Hungary on March 31 reminding all state parties of their obligations under the Rome Statute to arrest and surrender anyone subject to an ICC arrest warrant.

In the letter, Kaukoranta reminded that Netanyahu is wanted by the court for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between Oct. 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, in the Gaza Strip, when the prosecution filed the warrant applications.

"The Presidency of the Assembly further notes that under article 86 of the Rome Statute, States Parties are obliged to cooperate fully with the Court in its investigation and prosecutions of crimes within its jurisdiction," she noted.

Kaukoranta said: "Under article 89(1), States Parties have a specific obligation to comply with requests from the Court for arrest and surrender."

She went on to say that the court's ability to fulfill its mandate is dependent on states meeting their cooperation obligations, in particular when it concerns the arrest and surrender of individuals subject to arrest warrants.

"It is essential that all States Parties meet this duty and will not allow Mr. Netanyahu to enter their territory without meeting their obligation to arrest and surrender him to the International Criminal Court," added Kaukoranta.

She also shared the letter following Hungary's decision to withdraw from the ICC.

Hungary announced the decision shortly after the Israeli premier arrived in Budapest for a four-day visit.

Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, where more than 50,500 people have been killed, mostly women and children, in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023.

Netanyahu's visit to Hungary marks the first time he has set foot on European soil since the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last November.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on Hungary to arrest Netanyahu and hand him over to the ICC.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.