Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, strongly criticized the International Criminal Court’s attempt to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC accused the Israeli leaders of committing war crimes, including targeting civilians and using torture as a war tactic. Speaker Johnson spoke out against the ICC’s actions, stating that the United States should take action to punish the court and prevent it from threatening the sovereignty of its allies.
Johnson emphasized that the ICC’s actions are a direct challenge to U.S. sovereignty, and as such, the United States would not support or endorse the court. He announced that the House of Representatives would introduce legislation to prevent the court from causing international tensions and warned of severe consequences if the ICC continued its actions.
Mike Johnson Threatens to Punish ICC If It Proceeds With Israel Arrest Warrants https://t.co/HHb91xkdIt
— paula ritchie (@paularitchie3) May 24, 2024
This is the first time the ICC has attempted to prosecute the U.S. or one of its allies, and Johnson condemned the court’s decision as baseless and illegitimate. He argued that international bureaucrats should not be allowed to undermine the authority of democratic nations that uphold the rule of law.
In addition to Speaker Johnson’s stance, Representative Chip Roy from Texas proposed legislation to sanction ICC officials who investigate U.S. citizens or its allies. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers criticized the ICC’s actions, with even President Joe Biden denouncing the court’s decision as outrageous.
Democrats such as Representatives Ritchie Torres and Debbie Wasserman Schultz also expressed their disapproval of the ICC’s actions, emphasizing that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. Additionally, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik voiced her support for Roy’s legislation.
