President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that the United States would withhold specific weapons and artillery shells from Israel if its military were to invade Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where over 1 million people seek shelter.
In an interview with CNN, Biden emphasized that if the Israeli military were to initiate a ground offensive in Rafah, the administration would refrain from providing “the weapons that have been historically used to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities.”
“We’re not going to supply the weapons and the artillery shells used,” Biden affirmed.
This shift in U.S. policy toward the conflict underscores a commitment to alter the approach to warfare. However, Biden reiterated that the U.S. remains committed to ensuring Israel’s security, particularly regarding the Iron Dome defense system and its capacity to respond to attacks.
Addressing the use of 2,000-pound bombs, Biden acknowledged concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza and cited the recent decision to halt a planned shipment of such weapons to Israel. According to NBC News, the White House suspended a shipment that included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.
As tensions escalate and Israel prepares for a potential ground offensive in Rafah, there is reported frustration within the Israeli government over the U.S. decision. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated the military’s readiness to enter the city, regardless of any cease-fire agreements.
In discussions between U.S. and Israeli officials, Israel has emphasized the importance of military operations in Rafah, despite calls for a cease-fire. However, an Israeli official denied claims that Israel demands Rafah to be excluded from a potential cease-fire deal.
Biden has reiterated his opposition to the offensive in Rafah during conversations with Netanyahu, as indicated in White House readouts of their discussions.
Regarding broader efforts to address the Israel-Hamas conflict, Biden highlighted collaboration with Arab states. He mentioned that five Arab leaders were willing to support Gaza’s reconstruction and the transition to a two-state solution. When asked about governance, Biden clarified that their focus would be on maintaining security and peace while working towards establishing a credible and non-corrupt Palestinian Authority.