US House speaker rebuffs ICC arrests warrants for Israeli leaders

WASHINGTON

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s arrest warrant requests for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

"America should punish the ICC and put (chief prosecutor) Karim Khan back in his place. If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israel's leaders, we know that America will be next," Johnson said at a news conference.

Since the ICC is a "direct affront" to the US sovereignty, Johnson said America has never endorsed the Court.

He added that Congress is reviewing all options.

"We have some very aggressive legislation that we are going to push as quickly as possible," he said. "If the ICC moves forward with its absurd warrant, arrest or request, this is going to be an even bigger international problem.”

Johnson said he is scheduled to talk with Netanyahu again Wednesday.

Khan applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, and three leaders of the Palestinian group, Hamas, for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 35,600 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority being women and children, and nearly 79,900 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the ICJ, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.