President Joe Biden issued a stern warning on Wednesday that the US 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. He cited the recent use of these bombs in Gaza, which resulted in civilian casualties, as the reason for the suspension of a shipment of bombs to Israel. Biden emphasized 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 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 assessing how to proceed in the Palestinian enclave of Rafah.
In response to the situation, Gen. Lloyd Austin, Pentagon chief, stated that the US is 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 viewed 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 President Biden to delay arms shipments to Israel was met with criticism from Republican lawmakers who disagreed with his 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, White House reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.