President Joe Biden issued a stern warning on Wednesday that the United States would suspend the supply of artillery shells and other weapons to Israel if they launched a major offensive against Rafah, a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. He cited civilian casualties resulting from the use of these bombs as the reason for the suspension of a recent 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 the interview were his strongest stance regarding a potential Israeli military operation. This statement came after 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 is reviewing short-term security assistance shipments to Israel. He emphasized protecting civilians and preventing 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 US Government’s decision to delay arms shipments to Israel was met with criticism from Republican lawmakers who disagreed with Biden’s move. They questioned his commitment to Israel’s security through a joint letter from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
Despite controversy, White House reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. Meanwhile, State Department missed its deadline for releasing a report on whether Israel had violated international humanitarian law in Gaza. The focus remains on preventing further civilian casualties in this conflict.
The US prioritizes supplying appropriate weapons for situations at hand while avoiding collateral damage in densely populated areas.