Belgium follows Poland: We will not arrest Netanyahu

Belgium has joined the growing list of Western countries that have distanced themselves from executing the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Voor said in an interview with public broadcaster VRT that his government will not comply with the ICC's request.

Referring to Hungary's announcement that it would not arrest the criminal Israeli prime minister if he visits, De Voor said: "To be honest, I don't think we would do that either."

De Voor’s comments reflect a wider reluctance in Europe to implement the Hague court’s ruling, with the senior Belgian official insisting: “This is a real policy; I don’t think any European country would arrest Netanyahu, not even France.”

The stance marks a clear shift from Belgium’s previous stance. In late 2024, then-Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Souter called on Europe to support the ICC’s decision with tangible consequences, including possible sanctions and the suspension of agreements with Israel.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre De Croo has also pledged to uphold the ICC’s authority, stressing that the rule of law must be applied universally.

Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC altogether, a move announced during Netanyahu’s four-day visit to Budapest, showed how polarized the international community has become over Israel and the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu is expected to avoid traveling to most European countries since the ICC ruling; he is also scheduled to travel to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump.

If the trip goes as planned, Netanyahu would be the first senior foreign official to meet Trump in person twice since his return to the White House.