Biden Sends Strong Message: No Weapons for Israel if Major Gaza Strip Offensive Launched Against Rafah

President Biden issued a stern warning on Wednesday that the United States would not provide Israel with artillery shells and other weapons if they launched a major offensive against Rafah, a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Biden cited civilian casualties resulting from the use of these bombs as the reason for suspending a recent shipment of bombs to Israel. He emphasized that the US would not provide weapons and artillery shells used in Israel’s offensive against Hamas.

This statement from Biden marked his strongest stance yet regarding a potential Israeli military operation. It followed his decision to halt 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 assessing how to proceed in the Palestinian enclave of Rafah.

In response, Gen. Lloyd Austin, Pentagon chief, announced that the US was reviewing short-term security assistance shipments to Israel. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and expressed a desire to prevent 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 the US Government to delay arms shipments to Israel was met with criticism from Republican lawmakers who disagreed with the move. The issue prompted a joint letter from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, questioning Biden’s commitment to Israel’s security. Despite this controversy, however, White House officials reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to supporting Israel’s security efforts.

In addition, there had been reports that Israel had violated international humanitarian law in Gaza, but unfortunately, these were never released by State Department officials due to delays and uncertainties around it.

Overall, while some may view this move as politically motivated or as taking sides on an ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, what is clear is that President Biden is prioritizing preventing collateral damage caused by military operations in densely populated areas like Rafah.

The United States has long been one of Israel’s closest allies and has provided significant military aid over many years. However, amid rising tensions between Palestine and Israel over issues such as settlement construction and territorial disputes, some critics argue that this aid has emboldened Israeli leaders to engage in aggressive tactics without fear of consequences.

President Biden’s comments on Wednesday represent an attempt at balancing competing interests: on one hand supporting his ally’s security while also ensuring civilians are protected; on the other hand maintaining good relations with both sides involved in this complex conflict.