Biden Warns of Suspending Weapon Transfers to Israel if IDF Advances into Rafah

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Biden Administration confirmed it had paused a significant bomb shipment to Israel, concerned about its potential use in a ground operation in Rafah. President Joe Biden has stated that his administration will not support or provide offensive weapons to Israel if it launches an attack against Hamas in Rafah.

The Biden Administration, concerned about the potential harm to civilians in Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians reside, has strongly objected to a major offensive there. As a result, the US has initiated virtual discussions with Israeli officials to consider less invasive strategies for targeting Hamas.

“I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet: They’re not going to get our support if they go [into] these population centers,” Biden said in an interview with CNN.

Biden’s comments also suggest a possible permanent extension of the freeze his administration imposed last week on transferring heavy bombs to Israel, due to worries that they might be used in densely populated areas of Rafah, similar to their use in other parts of Gaza.

“I made it clear that if they go into — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — [then] I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem,” Biden stated, explaining that the operation initiated by the IDF earlier this week was confined to the Rafah border crossing, although “it’s causing problems with Egypt… which I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help.”

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which [Israel] goes after population centers,” Biden said, pointing to the 2,000-pound bombs that his administration held back last week. “But it’s just wrong. We’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells,” Biden asserted.

However, Biden clarified that the US will still provide Israel with Iron Dome missile interceptors and other defensive weapons to ensure that Jerusalem can defend against attacks from regional adversaries, like last month’s extensive missile and drone assault from Iran and its proxies.

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed the Senate Appropriations Committee that the US had temporarily halted a munitions shipment to Israel, citing concerns about Rafah.

“We’ve also been very clear about the steps that we want to see Israel take” to safeguard civilians in a significant combat scenario, Austin stated on Wednesday. “The US doesn’t want such a major IDF combat operation to occur, but if it does proceed, our focus is on ensuring civilian protection.”

However, Austin emphasized that the US continues to stand by Israel’s security and right to self-defense.

“Our commitment to Israel is ironclad,” he said, noting that the US has provided billions in security assistance to Israel and “we will continue to do what is necessary to support Israel.” He added, “We are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in light of the developing situation in Rafah.”

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