US President Biden has made the decision to withhold support from Israel in the event of an offensive in Rafah, located in the south of the Gaza Strip. Biden announced this decision during an interview with CNN, stating that if Israel invades Rafah, the United States will not provide weapons that have historically been used to combat such situations. He emphasized that Israel will not receive any support from the United States if it attacks densely populated areas.
The decision to withhold support came after the US government previously stopped a shipment of ammunition to the Israeli armed forces due to actions taken in the city of Rafah. While militant Palestinian organization Hamas rejects further concessions in ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted on military operations in Rafah to free hostages and destroy Hamas.
The United States, as Israel’s most important ally, has repeatedly warned against a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah. Biden stated that while Israeli military has not yet advanced into population centers, but warned that if they do, the US cannot provide support for such actions. The US Defense Secretary confirmed that the shipment of ammunition has been halted until the situation is reassessed.
Although the US government will continue to ensure Israel has necessary defense equipment like Iron Dome missile defense system, it will not support actions that harm civilians. Biden acknowledged that civilians have been killed in Gaza as a result of bombs provided by the US. Despite this, he reiterated his focus is on protecting civilians and ensuring that future actions do not lead to further loss of innocent lives.
