Netanyahu vows to pressure Hamas on ceasefire, to visit Hungary despite ICC warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his demand on Sunday that Hamas disarm and its leaders leave Gaza, vowing to intensify pressure on the group while working to secure the return of Israeli hostages. His remarks came as the region continued to reel from ongoing violence, with Israeli strikes killing at least 24 people in Gaza, including children, on the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Netanyahu emphasised Israel’s commitment to enforcing US President Donald Trump’s "voluntary emigration plan" for Gaza, stating that his cabinet had agreed to maintain military pressure on Hamas. The group, however, has rejected Israel’s demands, with senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri warning that Netanyahu’s stance would lead to "endless escalation" in the region.

Despite a recent ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, Israeli airstrikes resumed, forcing thousands of Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza once again. The Palestinian Red Crescent Service reported that it had recovered 13 bodies from a site in Rafah, including seven of its own members, five from the Gaza Civil Emergency Service, and a United Nations worker — victims of an Israeli attack on a rescue team a week earlier. Israel did not immediately comment.

Netanyahu dismissed claims that Israel was avoiding negotiations, stating, "We are conducting it under fire, and therefore it is also effective." He pointed to "cracks" appearing in Hamas’ position, though the group maintains it will not lay down arms, calling such a demand a "red line", as per a Reuters report.

The ongoing hostilities trace back to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli communities, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has since killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, and left much of Gaza in ruins, with hundreds of thousands living in makeshift shelters.

The devastation did not stop Palestinians from marking Eid al-Fitr amid the destruction. "We are here to celebrate the rituals of God amid the destruction and the sounds of cannons," said Minnatallah Al-Far in Jabalia, northern Gaza. "Others celebrate in peace and safety, but we do so amid destruction and bombardment."

In Israel, Netanyahu faces mounting domestic unrest. Protests have intensified as families of the remaining 59 hostages unite with demonstrators critical of his government’s actions, which they argue are undermining Israeli democracy. Netanyahu dismissed their concerns, stating, "Military pressure was the only thing that returned the hostages."

Amid the escalating conflict, it was reported on Sunday that Netanyahu is set to defy an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza by travelling to Hungary this week. His office announced on Sunday that he would meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who invited him in November shortly after the ICC issued the warrant.

Hungary, an EU member and signatory to the ICC, would typically be expected to enforce the warrant, but Orban has made it clear that it "will not be observed".

This visit will mark Netanyahu’s second trip abroad since the ICC’s announcement, following a February meeting with Trump in Washington. Israel has denounced the ICC warrants against Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant as "false and absurd". The court has also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri.

As the war in Gaza rages on, Netanyahu remains resolute in his stance, insisting that Israel will continue its military campaign until Hamas is dismantled. "We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan," he said. "That is the plan, we do not hide it, we are ready to discuss it at any time."

With agency inputs