President Biden issued a stern warning on Wednesday that the United States would halt supplies of artillery shells and other weapons to Israel if they launched a major offensive against Rafah, a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Biden cited concerns about civilian casualties resulting from the use of these bombs as the reason for the suspension of a recent shipment of bombs to Israel. He made it clear that the US would not provide weapons and artillery shells used in Israel’s offensive against Hamas.
Biden’s comments during an interview were his strongest stance yet regarding a potential Israeli military operation. This statement came after he had halted a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel last week due to concerns that Israel was edging closer to an attack on Rafah despite warnings from the US government. The US Government confirmed the suspension of the weapons shipment while they assess how to proceed in the Palestinian enclave of Rafah.
Gen. Lloyd Austin, chief of staff at the Pentagon, stated that the US is reviewing short-term security assistance shipments to Israel. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and preventing major conflict in Rafah. This move was seen as a progressive step by some sectors of the Democratic Party who have been urging Biden to take action against Netanyahu in light of recent events.
The decision by Biden to delay arms shipments to Israel was met with criticism from Republican lawmakers who disagreed with his move. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell sent out a joint letter questioning Biden’s commitment to Israel’s security. Despite this controversy, White House spokespeople reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to providing appropriate weapons for Israel’s situation at hand while prioritizing avoiding collateral damage in densely populated areas.
The State Department missed its deadline for publishing a report on whether Israel had violated international humanitarian law in Gaza, leading people to wonder why this was happening. However, there is still focus on preventing further civilian casualties in any potential conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinians in Gaza City.
In summary, President Biden has taken a strong stance against supplying Israeli forces with artillery shells and other weapons if they launch an attack on Rafah due to concerns over civilian casualties resulting from their use. His decision has faced criticism from some sectors but has been praised by others for being progressive and taking steps towards resolving conflicts peacefully.