Biden’s Clear Warning to Israel: ‘We Will Withdraw Military Support If You Attack Rafah’

Biden’s most direct stance yet after the war
Concerns overuse of 2,000-pound bombs provided by the U.S.

AP United News

On the 8th (local time), in an interview with CNN, President Joe Biden said, “If Israel goes on to attack the southern Gaza Strip in Rafah, we will stop supplying weapons.” This is the first time Biden has threatened to withhold military support. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) explained that this is the most direct expression of intent from President Biden in the 7-month war.

Biden’s warning on this day is intertwined with the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has repeatedly rejected the U.S.’s demands despite its military and diplomatic support. Israel has indicated its willingness to push ahead with a ground battle in Rafah, rejecting the ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas. Biden stressed on this day, “Civilians are dying in Gaza,” and “If Israel attacks Rafah, I will make it clear that we will not support the weapons Israel has used in the attack so far.”

Major media outlets reported that “There are concerns about the use of 2,000-pound bombs provided by the U.S. in Rafah, where 1.4 million refugees are densely populated.” This bomb is so destructive that it is not used in densely populated areas. However, Israel has used this bomb several times in the Gaza Strip.

There are predictions that Biden’s stance on supporting Israel will change with this measure. WSJ explained, “Until now, Biden has been reluctant to impose sanctions, despite pressure from the Democratic Party to stop supplying weapons to Israel,” and “Biden has already poured a lot of energy into negotiations between Israel and Hamas.”

Israel has taken several measures hinting at an attack on Rafah. They have occupied the Rafah border crossing Gaza and Egypt, blocking the route for relief supplies. Despite relief organizations stating that there is no capacity to accommodate any more refugees in the Gaza Strip, they have warned over 100,000 Palestinian residents to evacuate.

However, President Biden decided to continue supporting defensive weapons, including the maintenance of the Iron Dome air defense system for Israel’s defense. He said, “I will make sure that Israel maintains the ability to respond to attacks,” and “I will not support weapons and shells for an attack on Rafah.”

According to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, more than 34,000 Palestinians have died due to Israel’s military operations. The WSJ criticized Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip as a disaster. The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 when the Hamas armed group attacked the Israel-Gaza border, killing 1,200 civilians and taking more than 250 people hostage.