President Joe Biden has made it clear that if Israel continues with its ground offensive in Rafah, the United States will cut off the supply of weapons and bombs. This was revealed in an interview with CNN on Wednesday evening. Washington has emphasized the need for a credible plan to protect civilians in the southern Gaza Strip city and has informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of its position. However, despite this, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes and stated its intention to continue “targeted” operations in Rafah.
In response to concerns about the situation in Rafah, the US has suspended an arms shipment and indicated that other arms deliveries are under review. With approximately one and a half million Gazans in the city, the border crossing has been blocked by Israeli troops, preventing emergency aid from reaching the residents. President Biden expressed regret over the civilian casualties caused by American-supplied bombs in Gaza and reiterated that the US will halt arms supply if Israel enters Rafah.
While President Biden’s language is firm, CNN reports that Israel has not yet crossed a red line in terms of the offensive in Rafah. Biden clarified that the operations have taken place on the border and not in the city’s population centers. The US remains opposed to military operations in populated areas and will not provide weapons that are used against cities. However, Biden emphasized that he will continue to support Israel’s security through means such as air defenses like Iron Dome but will not supply weapons for urban attacks.
The situation in Rafah remains tense as Israeli forces continue their offensive against Hamas militants who have been launching rockets into southern Israel from Gaza. The international community is closely watching events unfold as tensions between Israel and Palestine reach boiling point once again.
