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President Joe Biden has warned Israel that the US may halt its supply of specific weapons should Israel move ahead with a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza city of Rafah. His intentions were made clear during a recent interview with CNN, in which he stated, “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah.”
His comments reflect a significant turning point in the Biden administration’s approach towards its traditionally ironclad relationship with Israel, and represent the President’s strongest verbal deterrent yet against potential ground invasion into Rafah. Despite the hard line taken by Biden, Israel seems poised to go ahead with its planned incursion into Rafah, a move that could lead to extensive civilian casualties, US officials warn.
President Biden conveyed his disappointment over the usage of US weapons by Israel, which had led to civil casualties in Gaza. When asked if Israel had overstepped a boundary, the US president responded, “not yet.”
Following these remarks, the US announced a delay in shipping thousands of bombs to Israel, a dramatic twist which was followed by news of a review of future weapon deliveries to the country.
Unsurprisingly, reactions have been polarised. Many US Democrats and members of the public have been exerting pressure on Biden’s administration to limit Israeli operations in Gaza due to increasing civilian deaths and a worsening humanitarian situation. Conversely, the announcement has drawn swift criticism from both Republicans and Democrats who back Israel, as well as pro-Israel organizations nationwide.
American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch warns that the withholding of weapons could impair Israel’s ability to prevent further attacks from Hamas. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham condemns the move, deeming it a potential risk to American interests.
In contrast, progressive Democrats, who have urged the Biden administration to suspend or condition US arms sales to Israel, have greeted the announcement positively.
On the international front, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari acknowledged that the U.S. had provided “unprecedented” security aid since the war’s onset. However, he also suggested that disagreements between the two nations should be handled discreetly.
Information Box:
Key Points:
1. President Joe Biden warns Israel of a potential halt in some US weapon supplies if an invasion into Rafah is pursued.
2. The US has already delayed a shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel and is reviewing future deliveries.
3. The news has split lawmakers, with Pro-Israel factions criticising the move, while those advocating for greater restrictions on arms sales to Israel have welcomed the decision.
Reference 1: Mike Wendling & Tom Bateman, BBC News, “Israel-Gaza war: Biden to halt some arms supplies if Israel invades Rafah”
Reference 2: Marc Rod, Emily Jacobs, Melissa Weiss, Jewish Insider, “Biden’s Israel threat slammed by pro-Israel lawmakers, mainstream Jewish groups”
Reference 3: Alastair Mccready, Aljazeera, “Israel’s war on Gaza live: Biden admits Israel used US bombs on civilians”