Khaberni - The new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, announced on Monday that his country will rejoin the International Criminal Court and will execute the arrest warrants issued by it, following the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted under a similar arrest warrant, to visit Budapest later this year.
The nationalist Viktor Orban, who has governed the country for 16 years, announced last year that Hungary would withdraw from the International Criminal Court after hosting Netanyahu in Budapest.
The withdrawal decision will take effect on June 2, 2026.
After Peter Magyar's victory in the parliamentary elections held on April 12, he immediately announced his intention to rejoin the Court, but an Israeli statement about a phone call between the two leaders mentioned that Magyar invited Netanyahu to Budapest again on October 23 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1956 uprising against the Soviets.
Magyar, asked on Monday about a possible contradiction, said he had invited all the leaders he spoke with by phone.
He confirmed that he had made it clear "even to the Israeli Prime Minister," his intention to halt his country's withdrawal process from the International Criminal Court.
The conservative, pro-European leader added in a press conference after the first meeting of his parliamentary bloc, "If a country is a member of the International Criminal Court, and a person wanted enters its territory, they must be arrested."
He continued: "I don't need to explain everything over the phone. I assume that all heads of states and governments are aware of these laws."
He mentioned that his team discussed obstructing the new government's withdrawal process before Hungary formally withdraws from the International Criminal Court on June 2.
It is noted that the International Criminal Court, headquartered in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in 2024, for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Moreover, Magyar announced that the inaugural session of the National Assembly will be held on May 9 and 10, during which he will take the constitutional oath.
