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Hungary’s prime minister-elect Peter Magyar said Monday that his government would be obligated to detain Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu if he enters Hungarian territory while subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, according to Politico.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Countries that are members of the court are generally required to arrest individuals named in such warrants if they enter their jurisdiction.

Hungary, under outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, strongly rejected the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant and later declared its intention to withdraw from the ICC.

Despite the active warrant, Netanyahu was given a high-profile reception by Orban during a visit to Hungary in April 2025. That move prompted the ICC to formally refer Hungary to its oversight body for failing to carry out the arrest.

Magyar has since said he intends to reverse course and stop Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC by June 2, marking one year since the country formally notified the UN Secretary-General of its plan to leave the court.

When asked Monday about Netanyahu’s expected visit later this year, which he has already agreed to, Magyar said, “I made this clear to the Israeli prime minister as well … it is the Tisza government’s firm intention to stop this and ensure that Hungary remains a member of the ICC.”

He added, “If a country is a member of the ICC and a person who is wanted by the ICC enters our territory, then that person must be taken into custody.”

European governments have taken varying positions on how to respond to the ICC warrants. Some maintain that it is possible to remain within the court while not enforcing such orders.

France has argued that Netanyahu enjoys immunity from ICC jurisdiction because Israel is not a signatory to the court’s founding treaty. Italy has similarly said that detaining Netanyahu would not be practical while he continues to serve as Israel’s prime minister.

Germany’s then-chancellor Olaf Scholz said in April 2025 that he could not envision Germany arresting Netanyahu. His successor, Friedrich Merz, later signaled openness to allowing Netanyahu to visit, stating, “Fundamentally, an Israeli prime minister must be able to travel to Germany.”

The Netherlands has also indicated that there may be legal avenues to allow Netanyahu to enter the country without being detained, despite the ICC warrant.

{Matzav.com}

A two-minute siren sounded across Israel on Tuesday morning, bringing the country to a standstill in commemoration of the 25,648 soldiers and civilians who gave their lives for the Jewish state.

Yom Hazikaron, or Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Hostile Acts, began at 8 p.m. on Monday with a nationwide one-minute siren. Tuesday morning’s two-minute alarm sounded ahead of memorial ceremonies at Israel’s 52 military cemeteries.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2046502449343520965

At sundown on Tuesday, Israel will transition from solemn remembrance to joyous celebration, kicking off its 78th Independence Day. Celebrations will take place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which President Donald Trump has said is set to expire on Wednesday evening, with expected last-minute talks expected to take place in Islamabad on Tuesday.

 

A total of 174 Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been killed during their military service since last Yom Hazikaron, according to figures released by the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Another 54 disabled veterans died over the past year due to complications from wounds sustained during their service and were also recognized as fallen service members.

The updated data brings the total number of those who have died in defense of the country since 1860—when Jewish residents began establishing neighborhoods outside Yerushalayim’s Old City walls—to 25,650, according to the ministry’s statement. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf Monday accused President Donald Trump of breaching the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, warning that Tehran is ready to escalate if hostilities resume.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table— in his own imagination— into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Qalibaf wrote on the social platform X. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”

Qalibaf, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is leading Iran’s diplomatic engagement with the U.S. Trump said Sunday that negotiations are expected to resume later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Tensions were further heightened on Sunday when the United States Navy stopped an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that was attempting to evade the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and continue toward an Iranian port. Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters Monday that the interception violated the terms of the current ceasefire, which began on April 8 and is due to expire this week.

In a phone interview with Bloomberg, Trump stated that the truce will end on “Wednesday evening Washington time,” and indicated he is “highly unlikely” to prolong it in the absence of a broader agreement.

As part of efforts to secure a deal, Trump is dispatching Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad. The White House confirmed Monday that Vance is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, accompanied by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.

“I sent my A-Team,” Trump told PBS News on Monday, referring to the same group that previously conducted negotiations with Iranian officials earlier this month. Those discussions concluded without a final agreement, though Vance described them as showing “progress” toward ending the conflict and limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Also on Monday, Trump pushed back on suggestions that he is facing urgency to finalize an agreement before the ceasefire expires. Writing on his Truth Social platform, he said he is “under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly!”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects Iran to enter negotiations, expressing confidence ahead of potential talks in Pakistan while also warning of severe repercussions if Tehran refuses.

In a brief phone appearance on “The John Fredericks Show,” Trump made clear he believes Iran will ultimately agree to discussions but signaled that failure to do so would carry significant consequences.

“Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” the President said.

“Hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up,” Trump continued, adding that when they do so, “they will not have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also reiterated his justification for recent U.S. military action against Iran, saying it was unavoidable. “And I have to say we had no choice in Iran,” he said. “It wasn’t like we had a choice. We had to do it.”

He added that the situation is progressing well and nearing resolution. “We’ve done a great job, and we’ll get it closed out, and everybody’s going to be happy,” he said.

Iranian leadership responded sharply, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejecting the notion of negotiating under pressure and accusing the U.S. of using coercion.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation in recent talks with the US in Pakistan, wrote in a social media post.

“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” he warned.

His remarks followed Trump’s earlier statement on Truth Social that U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports would remain in place until an agreement is finalized.

Trump wrote that the blockade, which began last week, is “absolutely destroying Iran”, and added that the US is winning the conflict “by a lot”.

In another post, Trump argued that a new agreement under discussion would surpass the previous nuclear deal reached during the Obama administration.

“The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA,” Trump wrote, describing the 2015 agreement as “one of the Worst Deals ever made” and asserting that it created “a guaranteed Road to a Nuclear Weapon.”

He emphasized that the proposed deal would block Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Trump said the deal currently being worked on “will not, and cannot” allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

With a temporary ceasefire between the two countries scheduled to expire Wednesday, uncertainty remains over whether negotiations in Pakistan will move forward.

At the same time, a report cited by Al-Arabiya indicated that Pakistan has asked both Washington and Tehran to consider extending the ceasefire for an additional two weeks.

According to those reports, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could announce such an extension as soon as Tuesday.

Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Iran’s state news agency said Sunday that Tehran would not take part in further talks with the United States.

That statement came shortly after Trump said Iranian representatives were expected to travel to Pakistan on Monday for another round of negotiations.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus, has unveiled a new piece of legislation dubbed the “Mamdani Act,” according to Mediaite.

The proposal seeks to broaden existing immigration statutes by allowing authorities to deny entry, revoke citizenship status, or deport individuals based on their ideological positions or organizational ties.

Under the plan, people who are connected to or express support for socialist, communist, Marxist, or what Roy defines as Islamist extremist movements could be prevented from entering the United States or removed if already present.

The legislation would also block such individuals from obtaining legal status or citizenship while establishing additional legal justifications to deport non-citizens currently residing in the country.

Roy has presented the measure as both a national security initiative and a defense of American values, arguing that it is necessary to keep out what he calls “totalitarian” belief systems that conflict with the nation’s founding principles.

The effort is consistent with Roy’s reputation as one of the more hardline voices within the Republican conference, where he has regularly advocated for stricter immigration policies and stronger enforcement mechanisms, Mediaite reported.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH LIVE, SUNDAY, APRIL 26 2026, 7:15 PM ET:

The United States on Monday launched a large-scale effort to return more than $166 billion in tariff payments after the Supreme Court of the United States determined that the Trump administration exceeded its authority in imposing the duties.

Interest in the program has been immediate and significant. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, over 56,000 importers had already signed up before the system officially opened.

The initiative allows companies that paid the tariffs to request reimbursement through an online system called CAPE — short for Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries — which is operated through the agency’s broader ACE platform.

Despite the streamlined application portal, experts say the process itself may be anything but simple. Pete Mento, a licensed customs broker and director of global trade advisory services at Baker Tilly, described the system cautiously in a LinkedIn post.

“CAPE is clearly designed to make intake easy. Almost deceptively easy. Nothing in this update suggests CBP is relaxing scrutiny on the back end. If anything, this feels like ‘get it in the door quickly, we’ll decide what happens after.’”

The tariffs had raised prices across a wide range of consumer goods, leaving many Americans paying more at checkout. Now that the levies have been struck down, a central question has emerged: whether any of those funds will make their way back to consumers.

Some Democratic lawmakers are pressing for direct relief, arguing that households ultimately absorbed the added costs through higher retail prices.

At present, however, the refund program is designed exclusively for businesses. There is no obligation requiring companies to pass any returned funds on to customers.

As a result, billions of dollars could be reimbursed to importers while everyday consumers may see little immediate impact.

To receive payment, companies must submit extensive claims through the ACE system, including detailed transaction records. Each filing can contain thousands of entries, all of which must be reviewed and validated before refunds are approved.

Even after approval, the timeline for receiving funds may stretch out. Officials estimate payments could begin within 60 to 90 days, though delays are expected as claims are processed in stages.

That lag has raised further concerns among consumers, since even once businesses receive their refunds, there is no guarantee the savings will be reflected in lower prices.

Companies will have discretion over how to handle the returned funds — whether to retain them, reduce prices, or offer discounts — with no requirement to take any specific action.

Some businesses have suggested they may pass money back. Shipping giants UPS and FedEx, which charged tariff-related fees directly to customers, have indicated they could issue refunds once they receive payments.

At the same time, financial firms are finding ways to capitalize on the process. Hedge funds are offering to purchase tariff refund claims from companies upfront, providing immediate liquidity in exchange for a share of the eventual payout.

This development underscores the scale of the financial opportunity surrounding the refunds.

The rollout itself is being conducted in phases. Initial payments will prioritize more recent tariff collections, with older claims scheduled for later processing, potentially extending the timeline for distributing the full $166 billion.

Even after all funds are returned, consumers may still be left waiting for any benefit.

Democratic proposals to send direct payments to Americans or compel companies to share refunds face significant legal and political challenges, leaving the current system focused solely on reimbursing businesses.

Meanwhile, legal challenges are beginning to take shape, as consumers and advocacy groups explore ways to force companies to return a portion of the funds. These cases could take years to resolve.

Looking ahead, the possibility of new tariffs remains on the table. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has suggested that tariffs could be reintroduced as soon as July, while industry-specific measures imposed under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act are still in place.

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said in a recent television appearance that even if refunds are distributed, alternative legal authorities could still be used by the Trump administration “that perhaps could reduce that number [$166 billion, plus interest] quite a bit.”

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad by Tuesday morning to participate in negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the ongoing war, according to three U.S. sources cited by Axios late Monday.

Vance’s trip is set to take place as the current ceasefire approaches its expiration. President Donald Trump has warned that if no agreement is reached, the U.S. could resume military strikes, including targeting Iranian bridges and power infrastructure.

Although securing a comprehensive agreement within such a short timeframe appears unlikely, Trump could opt to extend the deadline if meaningful progress is made during the talks.

In fact, Trump has already effectively pushed the timeline back slightly. While the original two-week ceasefire was set to expire Tuesday, he indicated on Monday that the deadline would now run through Wednesday evening.

Throughout Monday, White House officials were waiting for confirmation from Tehran that its delegation would travel to Islamabad, Axios reported.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Iranian officials had been delaying their decision amid internal pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was urging negotiators to take a tougher stance and avoid talks unless the U.S. blockade is lifted.

Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey pressed Iran to attend the negotiations.

The Iranian delegation ultimately held off until receiving approval from the country’s Supreme Leader, which came Monday night, according to the source.

Two sources said Vance is expected to leave Tuesday morning, while another indicated he could depart as early as late Monday night.

Trump’s senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also anticipated to travel to Islamabad for the discussions.

The developments came after a strongly worded social media post by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Iran’s delegation in earlier talks. Ghalibaf sharply criticized Trump and made clear that Iran would not engage in negotiations under pressure.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf wrote.

“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” he warned.

Trump, for his part, maintained that Iran will ultimately agree to negotiations, while reiterating his warning of serious consequences if it does not.

“Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” the President told “The John Fredericks Show,” a conservative radio program.

“Hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up,” Trump continued, adding that when they do so, “they will not have a nuclear weapon.”

{Matzav.com}

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