Middle East: Joe Biden threatens to no longer deliver weapons if Israel “enters” Rafah

Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that he “would not deliver” certain weapons to Israel, of which the United States is the primary military supporter, in particular “artillery shells”, in the event of a major offensive against Rafah, a warning unprecedented from Washington.

“If they enter Rafah, I will not deliver to them the weapons that have always been used (…) against cities,” he said in an interview with CNN. “We will not deliver the weapons and artillery shells that have been used” so far, Joe Biden said.

This is the first time that the 81-year-old Democrat has publicly set conditions for American military support for Israel.

“It’s bad”

Asked about the US decision last week to suspend the delivery of a shipment of bombs, he commented: “Civilians were killed in Gaza because of these bombs,” and added: “It’s wrong.” However, he assured that the United States would continue to “ensure that Israel is protected by Iron Dome”, its anti-aircraft defense shield.

Asked about the military operation that Israel has already launched in Rafah, a town in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge, Joe Biden said that it did not affect “population centers”, therefore suggesting that this is not a major offensive requiring a reaction on its part.

“They will not have our support”

“I said it clearly to Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, editor’s note) and to the war cabinet, they will not have our support if they really enter the population centers,” said the American president.

Joe Biden took on the role of primary supporter of Israel following the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, but his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has experienced several episodes of high tension, and could reach a breaking point around the Rafah question.

According to a senior American official on condition of anonymity, a shipment consisting of “1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs” was suspended last week.

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AFP

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