Arrest Warrant Deemed a ‘Gift to Terrorists’

(RightWing.org) – On May 20, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim AA Khan, KC, issued a statement announcing his decision to file applications for arrest warrants for five officials related to the alleged commission of war crimes during the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas. He named the head of Hamas and two of his top lieutenants and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister. A top Republican quickly spoke out against that decision.

Later that day, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) discussed the chief ICC prosecutor’s announcement with Fox News Digital. The number three GOP lawmaker slammed the ICC head’s “decision to equate” Israel’s actions to those of the Islamist Sunni group Hamas as “a gift to terrorists around the globe.” He also called the move “a slap in the face” to the Middle East’s “only free-standing democracy.”

Continuing, Emmer pointed out the obvious — there’s “no comparison” between Hamas torturing, raping, and murdering “thousands of innocent civilians” and the Israelis “rightfully defending themselves” against those lawless attacks.

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.…

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 20, 2024

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) echoed that sentiment in a statement he posted on his X/Twitter account. He wrote that the Biden administration’s “pressure campaign against Israel” led to the ICC’s effort to “equate Israeli officials with the evil terrorists who perpetrated the October 7 massacre of innocent Israelis.

The speaker characterized the decision to apply for arrest warrants against Israeli officials as “baseless and illegitimate.” He also called on the international community to condemn that effort.

Johnson accused President Joe Biden of failing to lead America’s response to Khan’s announcement. He advised that the House would fill that void and review “all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC… if they proceed” with its pursuit of the Israeli officials “in the absence of leadership from the White House.”

Johnson also said that the ICC’s action could have ramifications beyond the Israel-Hamas War. “If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, [America’s] could be next,” he cautioned.