“Civilians were killed in Gaza” by American bombs, deplores Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that he “would not deliver” certain weapons to Israel in the event of a major offensive against Rafah. The United States is the primary military supporter of the Jewish state.
Asked about the American decision to suspend the delivery of a shipment of bombs last week, the American president said, in an interview with CNN: “Civilians have been killed in Gaza because of these bombs. » And to add: ” It’s bad. »
According to a senior American official, the United States suspended the delivery of a cargo composed last week “1,800 2,000-pound (907-kilo) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226-kilo) bombs”as the Israeli army prepared to launch an offensive – “limited” according to her – in Rafah, which some fear as being the prelude to a major assault.
“If they enter Rafah, I will not deliver to them the weapons that have always been used (…) against cities »Mr. Biden said on Wednesday. “We will not deliver the weapons and artillery shells that were used” until then, added the American president.
This is the first time that the 81-year-old Democrat has publicly set conditions for American military support for Israel. However, he affirmed 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, Mr. Biden said that it did not affect “population centers”judging that the Hebrew State had not ” Not yet “ crossed a red line in this locality in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge.
“I said it clearly to Bibi [le premier ministre, Benyamin Nétanyahou] and in the war cabinet, they will not have our support if they really enter the population centers”said the American president. “We are not distancing ourselves from Israel’s security, we are distancing ourselves from Israel’s ability to wage war in these areas”he added.
