US House speaker reiterates 'ironclad' support to Israel

WASHINGTON

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday reiterated his "steadfast commitment" to the US-Israeli partnership.

"Our support for Israel remains ironclad," Johnson told reporters after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the US Capitol.

Johnson said he and Netanyahu discussed the "special" partnership between the two countries.

"I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for his unrelenting commitment to making the region and the world a safer place amid really extraordinary challenges," said Johnson. "What Israel has done in the past seven months really is a testament to what can be accomplished when we do not let the enemy set the rules".

President Donald Trump and Netanyahu both understand that peace is secured "through strength, not appeasement, and not by turning our backs on our allies," Johnson said.

Netanyahu, for his part, said Trump's "critical" decisions, including renewing supply of weapons and signing executive order to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC), show the US' commitment to Israel.

"We're not going to have a future for Gaza or for future for peace in our part of the world if Hamas remains there," he said.

Netanyahu also invited Johnson to Israel.

"I know you're busy, but find space to do that. You'll be welcome in the red carpet," Netanyahu said.

"I can't wait," Johnson replied.

Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant face arrest warrants issued by The Hague-based court in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. Israel has killed more than 47,000 people in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 and rendered it uninhabitable.