The US President has announced that he will withdraw support from Israel if they launch an attack on Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Biden stated that weapons provided by the US have been used to kill civilians in the past, and therefore, he would not deliver any additional weapons if Israel were to target densely populated areas.
The Israeli military has already taken control of parts of Rafah and set up a border crossing on the Palestinian side. Hamas, a militant Palestinian organization, rejected further concessions and accused Israel of using negotiations as an excuse to invade Rafah. Meanwhile, Israel has stated that the ceasefire negotiations are unacceptable as they aim at freeing hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
The US government had already withheld a shipment of ammunition to Israel due to their actions in Rafah. President Biden emphasized that US support would not be provided if Israel were to attack population centers in Rafah. The US Defense Secretary confirmed that ammunition shipments to Israel had been halted due to concerns about civilian casualties. While the US would continue to support Israel’s defense, they would not provide weapons for attacks on civilian populations.
In conclusion, President Biden reiterated that the US government would ensure Israel had sufficient military equipment for defense purposes such as the Iron Dome missile defense system. Support would be withheld if Israel were to target population centers in Rafah, and efforts would be made to prevent civilian casualties in the region.
