President Joe Biden has issued a warning to Israel, stating that the United States will withhold artillery and other weapons if Israel invades Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas. In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Biden made it clear that the U.S. would not supply weapons if Israel moved to invade Rafah. This statement follows the Biden administration’s decision to halt a shipment of bombs to Israel.
Biden expressed concern over civilian casualties in Gaza caused by bombings targeting population centers. He emphasized that the U.S. would ensure Israel’s security by supporting their Iron Dome defense system.
Hamas recently launched a rocket attack from Rafah towards the Kerem Shalom border crossing, resulting in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers and injuries to ten others. In response, the Israel Defense Forces urged residents in Rafah to evacuate to safety zones.
Despite warnings from Israeli officials, the IDF entered Rafah and took control of the border crossing shared with Egypt. Biden reiterated that supplying weapons for such actions is “just wrong”, reiterating the U.S.’s stance on the matter.
