President Joe Biden took a firm stance in recent statements that the U.S. will halt the supply of offensive weaponry to Israel if the latter proceeds with a major invasion of Rafah, a densely populated area in Gaza and a stronghold for Hamas.
During an interview, President Biden made his position clear: “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers.” He stressed that should Israeli forces enter Rafah, the United States will not provide the weapons that have been historically used to engage in such operations. This policy shift signals a critical juncture in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The White House has been outspoken, urging Israel to devise a thorough plan for the safe evacuation of civilians before launching any military action. The conflict has already resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties and has displaced approximately a million refugees to Rafah, following skirmishes in northern Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been resolute in his strategy to dismantle Hamas, particularly after the October 7 attacks that took the lives of over a thousand Israelis.
Biden’s increasingly visible frustration with Netanyahu’s approach was on display during a private call last month, where he hinted at a potential reassessment of U.S. support for Israel if further actions were not taken to safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers. This conversation followed a U.S. decision to pause a shipment of bombs to Israel over concerns of a prospective invasion of Rafah, a move that has not been made public until the President’s explicit threat to cut off offensive weapons.
While the administration is committed to maintaining Israel’s security, including the Iron Dome defense system, Biden has made it unequivocally clear that offensive weapon supply lines would be severed: “We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas,” he said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also weighed in, confirming that the U.S. has paused a shipment of “high payload munitions” and that the administration is currently reviewing potential sales or transfers of other munitions in light of the situation in Rafah.
This reevaluation of military aid comes as the Biden administration prepares to deliver a formal judgement on whether airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on the delivery of aid constitute violations of international and U.S. laws designed to protect civilians from the atrocities of war. Should a decision against Israel be reached, pressure on Biden to curb the flow of weapons and financial aid to Israel’s military would likely intensify.
Biden’s stance has not been without criticism. Some members of Congress and protests across the U.S. have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the continued support for Israel amidst the conflict, while others, particularly from the Republican party, have admonished Biden’s decision to tie weapons shipments to Israel’s actions, suggesting it could embolden Israel’s adversaries.
Relevant articles:
– Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches major invasion of Rafah, CNN, 05/09/2024
– Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally, The Associated Press, 05/09/2024