President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that he would stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with a major ground invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where many civilians have taken refuge.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Biden acknowledged that American-supplied bombs have caused civilian casualties in Gaza. He indicated that if Israel were to conduct an invasion of Rafah, the US would no longer supply certain types of weapons historically used in such operations.
Biden’s stance represents a significant shift in the US administration’s approach to the seven-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas. It also marks a recognition of the United States’ role in supplying weapons used in the conflict, raising concerns about their impact on civilians.
Pressure has been mounting on the Biden administration to limit arms shipments to Israel amid growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza. The president’s previous stance had been one of robust support for Israel’s efforts against Hamas, but the threat of a major invasion into Rafah seems to have prompted a reconsideration.
While Biden pledged to continue providing defensive weapons like those used in the Iron Dome system, he was firm in stating that further shipments of other artillery would be paused if Israel initiated a large-scale invasion of heavily populated areas.
The United States has already paused the shipment of “high-payload munitions” due to Israel’s potential operations in Rafah without a clear plan for civilian safety. Biden’s explicit linkage of arms shipments to Israel’s actions could signal a growing divide between him and Netanyahu, with whom he recently spoke on the phone to discuss the escalating situation.
Biden’s remarks come amid broader concerns about Israel’s strikes and the impact on the civilian population. He also noted that while Israel’s actions in Rafah had not yet crossed a “red line” by entering heavily populated zones, any invasion into these areas would lead to the cessation of certain American weapons deliveries.
The president’s conditional approach to US support has potential implications for US-Israel relations and the future course of the conflict. Biden continues to balance this international crisis with domestic issues, promoting his economic policies and job creation efforts in speeches across the country, while recognizing the challenges of rising costs and inflation.
