Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Last Hungarian hostage may return to his family following Hamas-Israel ceasefire

Hamas Israel Hungarian hostage

The second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could offer a chance for the release of a hostage with Hungarian citizenship, the foreign minister said on Saturday. The Hungarian national held hostage is a young man.

In a statement released by his ministry, Péter Szijjártó said the possible release hinged on the completion of the the first phase of the deal. He added that a planned visit to Budapest by his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, had been postponed, but the sides had spoken about the deal by phone on Saturday.

Szijjártó welcomed the ceasefire agreement that will see the release of 33 hostages in its first phase and acknowledged the commitment of the Israeli government and the work of mediators, pointing to the impact on Europe and the world of security in the Middle East. Women, older men and the sick are to be released in the first phase of the deal. The Hungarian national held hostage is a young man.

Hamas Israel Hungarian hostage
Illustration. Source: depositphotos.com

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FM Szijjártó welcomes Gaza hostage and ceasefire agreement, omits mention of 70 deaths since announcement

szijjártó ukraine energy transit route

The Gaza hostage and ceasefire agreement is great news as this agreement brings the possibility of a peaceful life closer for people living in one of the world’s most war-torn regions, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Thursday.

Moreover, the agreement will also have a positive impact on global security, the minister added. “We express our respect and appreciation to the American, Egyptian and Qatari diplomats who participated in the mediation,” Szijjártó said. He called it unacceptable that dozens of hostages had been living separated from their families for more than 15 months, “so we call on all parties of the agreement to fully implement all stages of the agreement,” he said. “This finally paves the way for the hostage of Hungarian nationality who is still in captivity to return to his family,” Szijjártó said.

Ceasefire? 70 people died since the announcement

According to the report of The Guardian, at least 70 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes since the announcement of the ceasefire in Gaza. The air strikes shook Gaza overnight and during Thursday. According to the article, no formal agreement has been reached yet, as the Israeli security cabinet postponed its meeting scheduled for Thursday morning.

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Hungarian FM: Suspending EU-Israel political dialogue ‘would be mistake’

Suspending political dialogue between the European Union and Israel would be “a serious mistake”, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Brussels on Monday, arguing that to do so would be to abandon hope for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in the Middle East.

Szijjártó against suspending EU-Israel political dialogue

At a press conference held on the sidelines of the European Union’s foreign affairs council meeting, Szijjártó commented on a proposal made by Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign-policy chief, to suspend political dialogue with Israel within the framework of the EU-Israel Association Council.

“It’s a bit like saying that if we’ve failed once, let’s quickly try again just in case we can fail again,” the foreign minister said.

The bloc’s Ukraine strategy, he said, had failed because the focus was not on keeping diplomatic channels, dialogue and negotiations open but on thwarting these possibilities.

Further escalation of the crisis in the Middle East would not only cost human lives but also churn up global security, he said.

Referring to “talk of new sanctions”, Szijjártó said that since the October 7 “evil attack” on Israel, the EU had sought punitive measures against 18 Hamas terrorists as well as 14 Israeli settlers, “which just goes to show how Brussels sees the situation”.

Meanwhile, the minister said Georgia had come under “an unbelievable political attack” at the meeting. “It looks like our Western friends can’t forgive the Georgians for choosing a conservative, patriotic, pro-peace government,” he said.

Szijjártó said Georgians had given the ruling party “a decisive victory with 54 percent support, which rarely happens anywhere in Europe except in Hungary.”

According to Westerners, Georgians “have the right to choose their own future” as long as “it coincides with the will of the liberal mainstream”.

He said Hungary fully supported Georgia in their European integration efforts, “and we stand four-square behind Georgia”.

Answering a journalist’s question, Szijjártó said Borrell’s actions could not be assessed independently of the European Commission and its president, who were responsible for the strong deterioration of the bloc’s security and competitiveness.

The minister said that five years ago Europe had no war, it had the second largest economy in the world, it was competitive and there were no obstacles barring cooperation with the fastest developing regions of the world.

“Five years ago, Europe was taken seriously…” he said.

The current commission had managed to diminish the bloc’s strengths and the commission’s president and foreign representative bore responsibility for the state of affairs, he said, expressing hope that “change will soon come with regard to those positions”.

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Anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack commemorated in Hungary – photos

commemoration in Budapest Hungary hamas attack

On Monday evening, 7 October, a special commemoration was held in Budapest, at the Dohány Street Synagogue, to mark the anniversary of last year’s terrorist attack on Israel. The event was jointly organised by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (Mazsihisz), the Embassy of the State of Israel and Szochnut to honour the memory of the victims and express solidarity with Israel.

Anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack

Participants in the event jointly commemorated the victims of the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attack, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israeli territory and brutally murdered innocent people, taking many hostage and taking them to Gaza.

The memorial service at the synagogue included eulogies and prayers and an iconic Israeli melody that added to the spirit of sympathy and remembrance. Participants were allowed to enter the site with identification documents under enhanced security measures.

During the evening, the commemorators held a candle-lighting ceremony in front of Herzl Square in front of the Dohány Street Synagogue. Representatives of Israeli and Hungarian civil society organisations read out the names of the kidnapped hostages and Israeli soldiers killed in the war. Candles were lit in honour of the victims, and all present joined in prayers for the release of the hostages.

 

Representatives of the Hungarian government also took part in the commemoration.

Loss of human lives in conflict

According to one-year statistics released by the IDF on Monday, 728 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 4576 wounded since 7 October 2023, and 17,000 Hamas operatives and terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinian civilian casualties is not accurately quantified. Still, more than 40,000 people have likely been killed in the conflict, and vast numbers of displaced people are currently living in refugee camps.

Yellow machines in several parts of Budapest

The Kidma Association drew attention to the 101 Israeli hostages held hostage in Gaza in a solidarity action on Monday, with a total of 1,000 giant yellow bows placed with the help of participants in six locations in the capital. In Israel, yellow is the symbol of hostages. The organisation said in a statement that the event, organised for 7 October, the first anniversary of last year’s terrorist attacks, was supported by several municipalities in Budapest.

Yellow bows in several parts of Budapest October 7 Hamas terrorist attack
Yellow bows in several parts of Budapest

The banners will remain outside for the next week

  • in St. Stephen’s Park in Újlipótváros,
  • Mechwart-liget in Buda,
  • Nehru Park in Ferencváros,
  • around the Szabó Ervin Library in Józsefváros,
  • Vörösmarthy Square in the city center,
  • and on the border of Teréz- and Erzsébetváros, in the Városligeti fasor.

No end

On this first anniversary, the conflict in the region has not only not been resolved, but has escalated, bringing the Middle East to the brink of war.

The Orban government has repeatedly stated that while in Ukraine they see peace talks as the solution, they support the current armed solution in Israel, details HERE.

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Can the exploding pagers in Lebanon be linked to a Hungarian company?

Orbán cabinet: Support for Israel ‘investment in our own security’

Supporting Israel is an investment in Europe’s own security, János Bóka, the European affairs minister, said on Tuesday, arguing that the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East posed a direct threat to the continent in the form of migration and terrorism.

2nd International Pro-Israel Summit in Budapest

Hungary considers Israel’s security a regional and global security issue, Bóka said at the second International Pro-Israel Summit in Budapest, adding that Hungary saw Israel as “one of the most important players” in the Middle East’s stability.

Israel and Hungary have a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, deep historical, cultural and interpersonal relations, broadening economic cooperation and common values and interests, the minister said, adding that Hungary would welcome if these relations could continue to grow under peaceful and stable circumstances.

Israel has the right to self-defence

He said Israel was exercising its “inalienable right to self-defence” after last October’s “unprecedented terrorist attack”. Israel and its people, he added, had a right to a secure life in their homeland, and that right could not be restricted or made subject to any conditions.

Bóka said

those who “want to erase Israel from the map” also wanted to “erase the European Jewish community”.

He warned that anti-Semitism had not been eradicated in Europe and could only be overcome by preserving the continuity of living European Jewish tradition.

The minister said that as the holder of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary considered the fight against anti-Semitism a responsibility. He added that this could be made effective by supporting and raising awareness of European Jewish life and protecting Europe’s Jewish heritage.

Miklós Szánthó, head of the Center for Fundamental Rights, which organised the event, said Hungary was the safest place for Europe’s Jewish community today. Hungary’s right wing, he added, was Israel’s “closest ally”, and Hungary stood by Israel at all international forums.

read also: Can the exploding pagers in Lebanon be linked to a Hungarian company?

He said Hungary had become an “honest and consistent friend” of Israel because the Middle Eastern country was fighting for the same way of life Hungary represented, and both countries sought sovereignty and a just peace.

Szánthó insisted that “terrorists and the left” were attacking Israel because its millennia-long existence posed a challenge to both “Islamist jihadists and the cult of woke”.

Miri Regev, Israel’s transport minister

Miri Regev, Israel’s transport minister, said Hungary was the only European country that had understood the threat posed by Islamic terrorism and understood that the conflict was not just a political one, but that Hamas was waging a war against Western culture, and specifically democracy, individual freedom and the freedom of religion and speech.

Israel, he said, did not want a war, but wanted everyone to be able to live and practise their faith in peace on its territory. But those who wanted to destroy Israel, Regev added, would have to face a country that was determined and ready to defend itself.

The minister thanked Hungary on behalf of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its constant and unconditional support and for the government’s ban on pro-Hamas demonstrations.

read also: Hungary’s first Micva Mobile in service – photos

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Can the exploding pagers in Lebanon be linked to a Hungarian company? – UPDATED

Exploding pager Hungary (Copy)

Nearly three thousand people were injured in Lebanon when thousands of pagers used for communication exploded simultaneously in people’s pockets in southern Beirut on 17 September. Many of the victims are believed to be Hezbollah members, according to international reports. The devices are linked to global companies, including one in Hungary.

The AR-924 pagers involved in the explosions were reportedly manufactured by BAC Consulting Ltd., a company based in Budapest, Hungary, according to AP reports. This information was based on a statement from Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, released on Wednesday. Gold Apollo clarified that although their brand name was licensed on the pagers, the actual manufacturing was done by another company in Budapest.

Later, Cristiana Rosaria Bársony-Arcidiacono, the owner of BAC Consulting Ltd., confirmed to NBC News that her company had worked with Gold Apollo. When asked about the pagers and the explosions, she explained, “I don’t make the pagers. I’m just the middleman. I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” as reported by Blikk.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs stated on Wednesday that Gold Apollo exported 260,000 pagers between August 2022 and August 2024, mainly to European and U.S. markets. They emphasised that there had been no previous reports of explosions involving these products, nor any reports of the company exporting pagers directly to Lebanon.

According to the latest reports by Telex, the pagers were purchased from Taiwan by a Sofia-based company, which later sold them to Hezbollah. However, the Hungarian company involved, BAC Consulting, was only an intermediary, and the devices never physically entered Hungary.

The Hungarian government confirmed this in an official statement. Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communications, said „Authorities have confirmed that the company in question is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary. It has one manager registered at its declared address, and the referenced devices have never been in Hungary. During further investigations, Hungarian national security services are cooperating with all relevant international partner agencies and organisations,”

Telex further reported that BAC Consulting Ltd. did not perform any significant activities and was only registered with a headquarters service provider. The company had no office and acted solely as an intermediary.

The real manufacturers behind the pagers are not Hungarians

exploding pagers in lebanon
Photo: depositphotos.com

The Bulgarian company involved in the transaction has a Norwegian owner. Similar to BAC Consulting, it is also registered with a seat provider and is one of 196 companies registered through this service. The Bulgarian company, founded in April 2022, claims to specialise in project management, though it likely does not manufacture anything.

It remains unclear to what extent Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono was involved as an intermediary, but it is certain that her role was limited to covering up the involvement of the Bulgarian company.

Telex also reported that BAC Consulting is registered in a condominium on Szőnyi Street. While listed as a consultancy firm, its website claims involvement in a variety of projects, from newspaper publishing to oil production. The company has only been operational for two years, with a profit of HUF 13 million (EUR 32,900) last year.

According to The New York Times, BAC Consulting was actually founded by Israelis, along with at least two other front companies, to conceal the real manufacturers of the explosive pagers—Israeli intelligence officers. This report, based on statements from an Israeli intelligence officer, provides unprecedented details on how the explosive devices ended up in the hands of Hezbollah members.

UPDATE: DK calls for convening natl security cttee over Lebanon pager blasts

The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has proposed convening parliament’s national security committee over the mass pager attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
DK leader Ferenc Gyurcsány told an online press conference on Thursday that “a Hungarian intermediary company … acting as a front company for the Israeli secret services” was linked to the case.

“Israel and the government of [Benjamin] Netanyahu … is in a close alliance with [the Hungarian] government,” Gyurcsany said. “So one possibility is that our ally established a front company in Hungary without our knowing, using it to attack a terrorist organisation.”

“An obvious consequence of this is that if this becomes public, Hungary, too, can become a target of terrorist attacks,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t know about this.”

Gyurcsány said it was “also a problem” if the government had known that Israel’s secret services were using Hungary as a “front”, adding that he did not believe “Hungary should have authorised this”.

Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for international communication and relations, said on Facebook on Wednesday that the matter “poses no security risk to Hungary”. The Hungarian authorities, he said, “have confirmed that the company in question is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary”. “It has one manager registered at its declared address, and the referenced devices never entered Hungary,” he added.

Zoltán Sas, the opposition head of the national security committee, convened the regular session of the committee for 26 September on which they will discuss the issue of the pagers, economx.hu wrote.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Seminar on the situation in Palestine at the Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest

On Wednesday, 28th of August, the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Hungary organised a seminar titled “Eyes on Palestine – What the Experts Say” at the Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest. The panel experts focused on the atrocities’ impact on medicine, journalism and archaeology.

Chairing the symposium, the Ambassador of Palestine to Hungary, Dr. Fadi Elhusseini, addressed many political and humanitarian issues, including the war of annihilation and the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. The focus was not just on the past 11 months into the Gaza Genocide, which in Elhusseini’s words “was carried out under the guise of self-defence” in which “70,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Gaza”, but on the decades of oppression Palestine has suffered from occupation. Elhusseini concluded that the occupation will inevitably come to an end and Palestine will continue to carry a proud, glorious and steady spirit where hope never dies.

The symposium continued with the speech of Dr. Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor specialising in emergency medicine, internationally known for his fieldwork in Gaza and his unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, who spoke about the mounting hardship facing the health sector in Gaza, that includes the declining number of medical staff, the intentional obstruction of humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Dr. Gilbert stressed that this genocide is obvious and said, “This is not a difficult conflict, this is a difficult occupation”.

Dr. Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor specialising in emergency medicine
Dr. Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor specialising in emergency medicine. Source: Palestine Embassy, Budapest

Palestinian activist and Executive Director of Health Workers for Palestine, Amira Nimerawi, a humanitarian impact specialist at the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, spoke about the effects of the Israeli occupation on public health in Palestine and health workers, touching on what she described as medical “apartheid” in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. Nimerawi highlighted the savagery of the collective punishment towards Palestinian patients, purposefully destroying the health system, the military taking away self-evidently obvious medical equipment from Palestinian patients, humiliating them and worsening their conditions.

Palestinian activist and Executive Director of Health Workers for Palestine, Amira Nimerawi
Palestinian activist and Executive Director of Health Workers for Palestine, Amira Nimerawi. Palestine Embassy, Budapest

Dr. Myriam François, a British journalist and researcher specialising in the Palestinian cause, gave a video intervention about the Western media and double standards, calling on everyone to speak up and raise their voices in support of Palestine and how important unity is in fighting for justice and accountability.

Mona Al-Shami, a Hungarian student of Palestinian origin, presented the findings of her study on the effects of the occupation in general, and the war of annihilation in particular, on Palestinian heritage and archaeological sites, which is yet another obvious violation of international law, for which Israelis yet again not being held to account.

Closing the symposium, Ambassador Elhusseini announced the embassy’s intention to print Ms. Al-Shami’s specialised and important study as a book that will be available to all at the 29th International Book Festival, Budapest held on 26-29 September 2024.

Ambassador of Palestine to Hungary, Dr. Fadi Elhusseini
Ambassador of Palestine to Hungary, Dr. Fadi Elhusseini. Source: Palestine Embassy, Budapest

The seminar was widely attended by prominent figures from the diplomatic corps, directors of academic institutes, international organisations, officials and civil society institutions, as well as representatives of the Palestinian community in Hungary.
Following the seminar, the Palestinian Hungarian Doctors and Pharmacists Association inaugurated a clinic that offers free services for the Palestinian community and students, in the presence of Ambassador Elhusseini, Dr. Gilbert and Mrs. Nimerawi.

The experts’ visit was concluded with an honouring for their support for the Palestinian people and their cause. The honouring took place at the headquarter of the embassy of Palestine, with the participation of Fatah SG, a member of Palestine National Council, president and board members of the Palestinian community, dignitaries and Palestinian businessmen in Hungary.

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Travel time on Wizz Air flights increases

wizz air middle east debrecen tourism travel flight

The Hungarian low-cost airline, Wizz Air, has decided to alter the route of some popular flights to the Middle East to avoid Iraqi airspace. This adjustment will lengthen the journey, necessitating an intermediate stop for refuelling and crew changes.

Refuelling and new crew for Wizz Air planes

According to Forbes, Wizz Air will continue its flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, due to the current safety situation in the Middle East, the airline will now fly on a modified route. The distinctive violet-purple aircraft will now fly over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, bypassing Iraqi airspace, as detailed in a letter sent to Forbes by the airline.

With the new flight plan, aircraft returning to Budapest will make a technical stop in Larnaca, Cyprus. Wizz Air established a base on the island in 2020. During this stop, planes will be refuelled, and some members of the original crew will be replaced.

Wizz Air engine
Photo: FB/Wizz Air

Wizz Air modifies routes due to Middle Eastern tensions

The airline has assured that the new technical stop will not significantly impact travel time, though passengers should expect some delays. Those purchasing tickets via the Wizz Air website or app will receive automatic notifications regarding the extended journey time.

The change is in response to recent escalations in the Middle East. Lebanese Hezbollah’s recent attack on Israel was a retaliation for the assassination of Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Additionally, Iran has threatened Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on 31 July. As the situation in the region continues to escalate, the Hungarian low-cost airline’s precautionary measures are expected to be well-received by passengers.

szijjártó israel wizz air
The Hungarian government supports Israel. Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

New flights and new fines

In July, Wizz Air announced several new routes from Budapest, including destinations such as Girona (Spain), Genoa (Italy), Marrakech (Morocco), Memmingen (Germany), and Salerno (Southern Italy). Further details can be found in our previous articles HERE and HERE.

However, the airline has faced some setbacks. In early August, the company was fined €772,000 by the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) for unfair commercial practices. Additionally, GVH has launched another investigation into the airline’s booking system and pricing practices for alleged unfair practices.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian foreign minister expresses concerns over ‘worrying’ Middle East situation

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Monday said there was growing concern worldwide about developments in the Middle East.

In a post on Facebook, the minister noted that he had spoken by phone with Israeli and Iranian foreign ministers Israel Katz and Ali Bagheri Kani, respectively, and the discussions “are proving anew that we’re in the 24th hour”.

If conflict spread to another country, he said, it “could easily turn into a regional war, presenting a threat to global security”. The international community must “concentrate all its strength on preventing escalation”, he added.

Hungary’s position is clear, he said: “Israel must not be left to suffer another terrorist attack such as that of last October; at the same time, everything must be done to prevent the outbreak of a major regional war.”

As we wrote a few days earlier, Flights suspended at Budapest Airport due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, details HERE.

As we wrote earlier, PM Orbán remained alone again in EU with rejecting statement about Israel, details HERE.

PM Orbán remains alone again in EU with rejecting statement about Israel

Hungary vetoed an EU statement condemning the Israeli Knesset’s rejection of the Palestinian state. As a result, the statement was published by Josep Borell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

According to Euronews, the EU wanted to condemn a Knesset resolution declining the existence of Palestinian statehood. Based on diplomatic sources, 26 member states were for it, while Hungary was against that statement. Since such resolutions require unanimity, the statement could only be published by the EU’s High Representative of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borell.

The Israeli “text says that Palestinian statehood would pose an “existential danger” to Israel”, Euronews wrote.

Not the first time that Hungary has blocked an EU statement

“A credible pathway to Palestinian statehood is a crucial component of that political process. No hope, no horizon for the Palestinian people will only deepen the conflict,” Borell wrote in a tweet.

“Budapest has previously blocked an EU statement calling on Israel to refrain from striking the southern Gazan town of Rafah, and has derailed efforts to sanction extremist Israeli settlers responsible for violence in the occupied West Bank”, Euronews added.

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According to foreign minister Szijjártó, to be anti-Israel is to be anti-semitic

szijjártó israel anti-israel sentiment

The anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic developments seen in western Europe and in the United States would be “totally inconceivable” in Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Monday, adding that “conditions for a peaceful coexistence are fully ensured” in the country.

szijjártó israel
Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

Szijjártó held a joint press conference with Israel Katz, his Israeli counterpart, and expressed deep concern over increasing anti-Israeli tendencies in international organisations.

“Israel is entitled to fair and equal treatment in international organisations,” the foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying, adding that the Hungarian government had always thwarted “unilateral, biased attacks and statements against Israel, and will continue to do so in future.”

Mounting modern-age anti-Semitism in Europe “is the result of an absolutely irresponsible migration policy, under which a vociferous minority can often override the will of a quiet majority,” Szijjártó said.

The minister said criticism of Hungary over anti-Semitism “by countries … who should at least keep quiet” was “absolutely shocking”.

The upcoming Hungarian European Union presidency would strive to “restore cooperation between the EU and Israel to the level of mutual respect,” Szijjártó said, urging the sides to conduct a dialogue and “suppress the tone of reprimanding and lecturing”. He added the Hungarian presidency would make preparations for association talks between the EU and Israel “in that spirit”.

Szijjártó said the Middle East crisis had had a big impact on global security and warned that the Gaza conflict could “easily become a global threat”. “Moreover, should the Gaza crisis and the war in Ukraine somehow be interconnected … we could face the real possibility of a global war,” he said.

According to the Hungarian government, “November 7 must not be repeated at any time or anywhere; the international community must defeat terrorist groups,” Szijjártó said. He also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages still held by Hamas, noting that the terrorist organisation had taken hostage five Hungarian nationals, three of whom had been released, one died, and the last one “is probably alive and hopefully soon to be released”.

“Civilian lives must be saved,” Szijjártó said, adding that terrorist organisations “using civilians as a shield for their own defence … is unacceptable, base cowardice.”

“Everything must be done to prevent escalation of the conflict, which could engulf the whole region in flames,” he said.

The ministry’s statement quoted Katz as thanking the Hungarian government for its support, adding: “Hungary is a true friend to Israel, their ties being founded on respect.” Katz said Hungary’s fight against anti-Semitism was exemplary, and wished to see similar efforts “in western Europe and in other parts of the world.”

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Trump: ‘Orbán doesn’t want war; I don’t want war either’

trump orbán 2024

“If you look at Viktor Orbán, ’cause we don’t want to see wars, I don’t want to see wars,” Donald Trump, the former US president, said in an interview with the podcast Timcast.

Miklos Szantho, the head of the Centre for Fundamental Rights, published the interview on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

The Republican presidential candidate said the US had not taken part in wars besides the conflict with the Islamic State terrorist organisation, “but we completed it one hundred percent”.

“I don’t want wars. I think it’s so horrible, so unnecessary, and so costly in terms of lives and money — in that order — and it destroys these countries,” the former US president said.

Trump said that had he been president at the time the war in Ukraine and the October 7 attack on Israel would never have happened.

Trump called Orbán “a very powerful guy” and quoted the Hungarian prime minister as saying that “the problem with the world today is that Donald Trump is no longer president.”

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Orbán cabinet: Greater efforts needed to free the Gaza hostages

Palestine Israel Flag gaza

Intensified efforts are needed to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas, Peter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Brussels on Monday, adding that it was also vitally important to guarantee the security of Red Sea shipping routes.

“I thanked the Arab states for their mediating activity [aimed at] freeing the hostages,” Szijjártó told a press conference after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council attended by representatives of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council. “Since another person with Hungarian citizenship is among the hostages, I asked them to continue their efforts.”

Meanwhile, he said the compromised Red Sea trading route was damaging European companies and population. “That’s why — if we’re seeking points of agreement between Arab and EU countries — the security of the Red Sea transport route should be such a common point.”

Regarding a possible two-state solution and recognition of the Palestinian state, he said no unified position existed within the EU. Further, there was no common standpoint on an assessment of the entire conflict or what the bloc’s relationship with Israel should be in the future, he added.

Regarding Georgia’s recent legislation on requiring organisations that receive funding from abroad to be registered, Szijjártó said several ministers at the meeting had “reprimanded” the country and were in favour of obstructing Georgia’s path to EU integration, while he had been alone in “defending the Georgians”. He added that Hungary would strongly support its EU accession during its EU presidency, “and hopefully the process will not be blocked by the other member states”.

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Ukraine, Gaza, Sahel: Orbán cabinet says Hungary ‘cannot be accused of lacking solidarity’

gaza palestine solidarity

Hungary cannot be accused of lacking solidarity, as it had launched the largest humanitarian action of its history to aid Ukrainians fleeing from the war and is supporting humanitarian action in Gaza, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians said on Monday in Brussels.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU ministers responsible for international development projects, Tristan Azbej said Hungary had opened its borders to more than one million Ukrainian refugees and provided asylum for hundreds of thousands. He added that the government is providing aid for people displaced within Ukraine, too.

At the same time, Hungary rejects all types of aid that would lead to a protracted war and further loss of life, he said. Also, “we won’t allow European Union funds Hungary is entitled to land in Ukraine”, he said.

Regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, Azbej said Hungary was providing health-care services to Palestinian refugees in Egypt and participating in humanitarian action in Gaza.

Hungary has also launched a “development and peace-building project” in the Sahel to prevent the deepening of conflicts and contribute to developments “to ensure people can make a living there rather than leaving for Europe”, he said.

During its EU presidency, Hungary will focus on preserving stability and facilitating progress in those regions.

“In the spirit of Christian solidarity, we must ensure the welfare of people in crisis regions and to find the most humane ways to prevent migration,” he said.

Read also:

  • Orbán warmly welcomed in Morocco – PHOTOS
  • Hungarian aid shipment arrives in Africa, details HERE

Iran attacked Israel: many local Hungarians contacted the embassy

PM Viktor Orbán

Hungary firmly condemns the drone and missile strikes on Israel and stands by the Middle Eastern country, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a video message on Facebook on Sunday.

Hungary firmly condemns the attack on Israel

The ministry’s latest updates indicate that none of the dual Israeli-Hungarian citizens or Hungarians temporarily staying in Israel were affected by the attack, Szijjártó said.

He said Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel carried a bigger risk of escalation in the Middle East than any of the past developments in the region and could even threaten global security.

Szijjártó said it was no accident that the international community, including Hungary, had been underlining the need to avoid escalation and the importance of acting responsibly over the past months of the Middle East conflict.

Hungary firmly condemns the attack on Israel, the minister said, reaffirming Budapest’s support for the Middle Eastern country.

“Our number one job in this conflict is, of course, to ensure the safety of the Hungarian people,” Szijjártó said. “Therefore, our embassies in the region are on 24-hour duty. The missions in Israel, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon are all involved in the work.”

24 Hungarian citizens in Israel had contacted the embassy

Szijjártó said 24 Hungarian citizens in Israel had contacted the embassy during the night. “Fortunately they are all fine, and, in fact, none of the dual Israeli-Hungarian citizens in Israel or the Hungarian citizens staying there temporarily … were affected by the attack.”

He added that anyone who is in trouble should contact the Hungarian embassy or the consular service.

Citing the latest updates, he said the Ben Gurion Airport had been reopened, adding, however, that flight changes should be expected.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry knows of 74 Hungarian citizens in Iran whom they are in contact with as much as possible. One Hungarian family has indicated their intention to leave the country, he said, adding that the embassy will provide them the help that they need.

In Jordan, there were two Hungarians who contacted the embassy and are confirmed to be safe, the minister said, noting that Jordan had also closed its airspace. At this time, this did not affect any flights to or from Hungary, Szijjártó said, noting that the next Wizz Air flight was due to arrive in Amman early on Tuesday. “It is not yet certain that this flight will be able to leave, so the staff there will be prepared for the possibility of Hungarian citizens getting stuck at the Amman airport or in Jordan,” he said, adding that those Hungarians will receive the help they may need. He said the ministry is in contact with every Hungarian they know to be in the area.

Szijjártó called on Hungarian citizens in the area who had yet to do so to register for consular protection. He noted that the staff of the consular service’s call centre in Budapest were also on 24-hour duty. At the end of his video message, Szijjártó again underlined Hungary’s firm condemnation of the attack on Israel. “We stand by Israel, and I think the international community’s call for responsible actions and avoiding escalation has never been as important or as valid as it is now,” he said.

Szijjártó speaks with Israeli counterpart by phone

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, by phone on Sunday. Szijjarto said on Facebook that he and Katz had discussed the situation following Saturday night’s attack on Israel. “I reassured my counterpart of Hungary’s solidarity with Israel and the Israeli people, and made it clear that we firmly condemn the attack on the country,” the minister said.

Szijjarto emphasised that Hungary, as a member of the international community, had in the recent period continuously argued against escalation. He added that he had expressed hope that an escalation that would threaten global security could still be prevented. “Hungary stands by Israel in these difficult days,” he said.

Read also:

  • Budapest Airport cancelled flight to Israel – breaking news in THIS article
  • Powerful modern Israeli defence radar erected in Hungary – Read more HERE

BREAKING: Budapest Airport cancelled flight to Israel!

According to the most recent data, the Persian state launched an attack on Israel, with over 300 drones and rockets in retaliation for the April Israeli airstrike targeting their Damascus embassy. Due to the escalating conflict, multiple airlines halted their flights to the Middle Eastern country, including Budapest Airport.

As reported by Budflyer, a Hungarian air traffic news Facebook page, Israir’s scheduled flight to Tel-Aviv, Israel, should have departed from Budapest at 10 p.m. yesterday. However, the departure was initially delayed and subsequently cancelled later that night, as announced by Budapest Airport.

Israeli media sources revealed that authorities evacuated Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv due to the Iranian air strikes, prompting several airlines, including KLM, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air France and Qantas, to cancel their flights to Middle Eastern destinations.

Air France Budapest Airport
Photo: facebook.com/airfrance

Furthermore, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq temporarily closed their airspace in response to the escalating conflict.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened Hungary’s defence council meeting to address the situation. He emphasised that the escalation poses a significant threat to both the world’s and Hungary’s security. Meanwhile, Iran’s UN mission clarified that they view the retaliatory strike as a response to the April 1 airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, and consider the matter concluded.

Read also:

  • Fatal air accident in Hungary: small plane crashes, passengers died – Read more HERE
  • Powerful modern Israeli defence radar erected in Hungary – PHOTOS and more in THIS article

Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian President talks with president of war-torn country

President Sulyok

President Tamás Sulyok had phone talks with Isaac Herzog, his Israeli counterpart, on Thursday, the Hungarian presidential palace told MTI in a statement.

Herzog congratulated Sulyok on his recent election, and the two presidents reviewed topical bilateral and global issues, the statement said.

At the talks, Sulyok highlighted Hungary’s being “a close ally and best friend” to Israel, as well as being a strategic partner in Europe. He expressed his sympathy with the families of victims of the October 7 attack, as well as with all residents of Israel. He said he hoped that peace could soon be achieved.

The statement quoted Sulyok as saying that Israel has the unalienable right to protect its sovereignty and the security of its people. “The theoretical foundation of our support for Israel is a conclusion drawn from the monstrosities of the Holocaust, under which a strong Jewish nation state is needed to guarantee that nobody could ever commit such deeds again,” Sulyok said.

Hungary firmly condemns all forms of anti-Semitism, Sulyok said, noting “the importance of Holocaust remembrance” with special regard to taking care of Jewish shrines, synagogues and cemeteries. He added that Hungary’s Jewish community was also a link between the two countries.

At the end of their conversation, the two presidents mutually invited each other for an official visit.

Read also:

  • Hungarian President Sulyok calls for ‘fight for nations’ survival’ – Read more HERE
  • HERE is the new Hungarian President’s first foreign visit: he called for deepening dialogue

Hungarian government continues to be ready to contribute to intl humanitarian aid – UPDATE 🔄

gaza strip

Hungary spent over 70 million euros on humanitarian aid worldwide last year and is ready to continue contributing to international efforts, the foreign minister said in Brussels on Monday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the European Humanitarian Forum, Péter Szijjártó said humanity was facing a global humanitarian disaster, mainly due to “one of the worse security situations of the past couple of decades”.

Some 30 countries and regions are currently suffering armed conflict, the gravest of them raging in Ukraine and the Gaza strip, Szijjártó said.

Humanitarian aid to Ukraine

As a neighbour of Ukraine, Hungary has been facing the “tragic consequences” of the war for two years as over one million refugees arrived in the country, he said. He said those who decided to stay in the country were offered access to education and health care, with some 1,600 schools and kindergartens now receiving Ukrainian children.

Szijjártó said Hungary was staging the largest humanitarian action of its history, and was ready to continue providing aid. “But we also know that the real solution to this tragic situation would be the war coming to its end. Therefore, we will increase our efforts to stand up for peace.”

Humanitarian aid to Gaza

Regarding the conflict in Gaza, Szijjártó said the protection of civilians was paramount and called for aid from Egypt, “which is bearing a lot of the burden.” He said Hungary has sent 200 ventilators and other healthcare equipment to the country.

Szijjártó said the international community also had a responsibility to stave off the threat of terrorism, one of the root causes of migration. Creating safe circumstances for everyone to make a living in their homeland was “a global responsibility”, he said.

Humanitarian aid to Chad

The foreign minister added that Hungary is setting up a humanitarian and development center in Chad and is ready to deploy troops to the country to help combat terrorism.

As we wrote earlier, Hungary supports Chad, one of the poorest and most autocratic states in the world with soldiers, a development centre, and even a model farm. What for? The connection may be Hungary’s developing ties with France.

As we wrote earlier, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta has opened a health centre set up in Hungary, details HERE.

UPDATE

Hungary providing humanitarian support to Gaza refugees

Hungary provides humanitarian aid to the civilians suffering under the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza, the foreign ministry state secretary in charge of aid to persecuted Christian communities said in Brussels on Monday.

Speaking to MTI after addressing the European Humanitarian Forum, Tristan Azbej said Hungary is helping Egypt manage the influx of refugees from Gaza by providing the country with medical supplies and financial aid. Hungary has also sent 400,000 US dollars’ worth of humanitarian aid to both Christians and Muslims in the Palestinian territories via the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, he added.

Meanwhile, Azbej said Hungary “hasn’t forgotten about the crisis zones that get less global attention”, either, noting that the government had launched a humanitarian and development project in the Sahel, which is facing political instability, desertification, a food crisis, a water shortage and civil wars.

Hungary, through its Hungary Helps humanitarian programme, has also sent a medical mission to Chad to aid internally displaced people as well as Sudanese and other refugees there, Azbej said. The government also helps persecuted Christians in Nigeria living under the threat of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, the state secretary added.

“We believe in providing both immediate and long-term assistance to local communities,” Azbej said, underscoring the importance of Hungary’s support for the Chadian authorities caring for refugees.