President Joe Biden declared on Wednesday a suspension of arms aid to ‘Israel’ in contemplation of a its military invasion of Rafah, citing apprehensions regarding the utilize of American weapons in deadly onslaughts against Palestinians in the Gaza enclave.
In an interview with CNN, the president was asked about the U.S. pause last week of a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to ‘Israel’ and whether those bombs were “used to kill civilians in Gaza.” Mr. Biden replied, “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs.”
Continuing his discourse, President Biden affirmed that should Israeli forces undertake a military incursion into Rafah, the United States would abstain from providing armaments traditionally deployed in engagements within that territory. This directive extends beyond bomb munitions to encompass artillery shells as well.
However, the president reiterated the unwavering commitment of the United States to bolster Israel’s Iron Dome, the system that protects from rocket fire, and ensure ‘Israel’ is able to “respond to attacks” originating in the Middle East.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations called Mr. Biden’s threat to stop some arms supplies to Israel if it invades Rafah “very disappointing,” Agence France-Presse reports.
“This is a difficult and very disappointing statement to hear from a president to whom we have been grateful since the beginning of the war,” Gilad Erdan told Israeli public broadcaster Kan radio.
“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price. This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose. This is Hiroshima & Nagasaki on steroids” remarked Lindsey Graham, a United States Senator, while pressuring the Secretary of Defense to provide Israel with the “weapons they need” to continue their genocide in Gaza.
The U.S. last week paused a shipment of weapons to ‘Israel’ that included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1700-1500-pound bombs as Israeli leaders neared a decision to launch an operation in Rafah, a southern Gaza city where more than 1 million people are taking shelter after fleeing other parts of Gaza.
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