US House Speaker hails Trump's ‘bold, decisive move’ to ‘take over’ Gaza

WASHINGTON

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson on Wednesday backed President Donald Trump's proposal to take over the Gaza Strip.

"There'll be more details forthcoming,” Johnson told reporters. “He's taking bold decisive action to try to ensure the peace of that region. It's a bold move. Far bolder than what's been done before.”

His remarks came one day after Trump said at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US "will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too."

Johnson said he will Netanyahu for talks as well.

"This is a bold, decisive move, and I think you have to do something to eradicate the threat to Israel. Here's the problem. If you leave Gaza in its current form, there's always a risk of another October 7," he said, adding Republicans will stand with Israel.

Trump’s proposal came after a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed more than 47,500 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.