Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged President Biden to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, calling the move "baseless and illegitimate." The ICC is reportedly considering charges over Israel's response to a Hamas attack last year.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has expressed strong opposition to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) reported plan to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to recent reports, the ICC is considering charges over Israel's response to a Hamas attack last year.
In a passionate statement, Johnson denounced the alleged plan as "baseless and illegitimate." He warned that the move could severely damage U.S. national security, as it could create an unprecedented power for the ICC to target American political leaders, diplomats, and military personnel.
Johnson emphasized that the ICC's actions could jeopardize the United States' sovereign authority. The speaker argued that the ICC should not be targeting Israel, but rather should focus on prosecuting war crimes committed by Iran and its terror proxies, such as Hamas. He urged the Biden administration to immediately demand that the ICC abandon its plans and use all available resources to prevent such an "abomination."
The White House has not officially confirmed or denied the ICC's alleged plan. However, State Department deputy spokesman Vidant Patel stated that the U.S. continues to believe that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Palestinian situation.
Israeli officials are deeply concerned about the possibility of ICC arrest warrants. Israel is not a member of the ICC, but the Palestinian territories were admitted in 2015. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will never accept any ICC attempt to undermine its right to self-defense.
The ICC is considering charges against Israel over its response to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. Israel has been accused of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza while conducting a ground invasion and airstrike campaign to retrieve Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Israel's response has drawn criticism on the world stage, with many questioning the severity of its actions. However, Netanyahu maintains that his government's actions were necessary to protect its citizens and soldiers.
The ICC's reported plan has raised concerns that it could set a dangerous precedent for the future. The ICC's jurisdiction over non-member states, such as Israel, could potentially expose democracies to prosecution for actions taken in self-defense against terrorism.
Rep. Johnson and other critics are calling on the Biden administration to intervene and prevent the ICC from issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. They argue that such a move would not only be unjust but would also threaten the security of the United States and its allies.
