Johnson blasts ICC for seeking arrest warrants for Israel officials, threatens 'sanctions'

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on Monday that the International Criminal Court (ICC) made a "baseless and illegitimate decision" to target Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other Israeli officials with arrest warrants.

The ICC is also seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leaders.

The applications for arrest warrants are to be considered by a panel of ICC judges.

 

“The ICC has no authority over Israel or the United States, and today’s baseless and illegitimate decision should face global condemnation. International bureaucrats cannot be allowed to use lawfare to usurp the authority of democratic nations that maintain the rule of law. Israel is fighting a just war for survival, and the ICC is attempting to equate Israeli officials to the evil terrorists who perpetrated the October 7th massacre," Johnson said in a statement.

 

“It’s clear the ICC’s decision has been advanced due to the Biden Administration’s pressure campaign against Israel and its outlandish State Department investigations. In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed. If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next," he added.