International Desk: The United States will stop arms supplies to Israel if it conducts a major attack on Rafah city in the besieged Gaza Strip. US President Joe Biden gave such a warning publicly for the first time on Wednesday (May 8). News from Reuters
The warning came as ongoing talks in Cairo on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan continued until Thursday.
In an interview with CNN, Biden said, “I’ve made it clear: if they attack Rafah, I’m not providing weapons.”
The Biden administration has repeatedly pressed Israel to abandon plans to attack the city of Rafah, citing the safety of civilians.
In that interview, Biden acknowledged that the US bombs given to Israel for use in the seven-month-long war to eliminate Hamas have killed civilians.
Reuters says there was no immediate comment from Israel on Biden’s comments.
However, Israel’s operation in Rafah will continue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. He claims that there are thousands of Hamas fighters. Rafah City must be hit to defeat them.
Meanwhile, Israel launched tanks and airstrikes in southern Gaza on Tuesday. They have also blocked an important route for aid entering Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.
Biden is under pressure from Democrats to stop Israel from attacking the town of Rafah. Additionally, growing pro-Palestinian protests on the nation’s university campuses have made the situation even more difficult for Biden to handle. Biden’s support for Israel has now become a political liability. Because Biden is dreaming of winning the presidency again in the upcoming elections,.
The United States is by far Israel’s largest arms supplier. The country accelerated the supply after the October 7 attack by Hamas.
However, US officials confirmed on Wednesday that the US has halted shipments of bombs to Israel out of concern for the safety and security of civilians in Gaza.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the decision “very disappointing.” But he said he did not believe the US would stop supplying Israel with arms.
