In a recent interview with CNN, US President Biden announced that he would withdraw support from Israel if they were to invade Rafah in the Gaza Strip. He stated that weapons supplied by the US had been used to kill civilians in the past, and therefore he would not deliver any additional weapons if Israel were to attack densely populated areas. The US government had already withheld a shipment of ammunition to Israel due to their actions in Rafah.
Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, the militant Palestinian organization Hamas rejected further concessions and accused Israel of using negotiations as an excuse to invade Rafah. Israel, on the other hand, had stated that the proposed ceasefire terms were unacceptable and aimed at freeing hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Israeli soldiers advanced into parts of Rafah and took control of the border crossing on the Palestinian side. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the operation in Rafah was aimed at freeing hostages and destroying Hamas. The US, as Israel’s ally, had warned against a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah.
President Biden emphasized that US support would not be provided if Israel were to attack population centers in Rafah. The US Defense Secretary confirmed that ammunition shipments to Israel had been halted due to concerns about civilian casualties. While the US would continue to support Israel’s defense, they would not provide weapons for attacks on civilian populations.
In conclusion, President Biden reiterated that the US government would ensure Israel had sufficient military equipment for defense purposes, such as the Iron Dome missile defense system. Support would be withheld if Israel were to target population centers in Rafah, and efforts would be made to prevent civilian casualties in the region.