Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that he “would not deliver” certain weapons to Israel of which the United States is the primary military supporter, in particular “artillery shells”, in the event of a major offensive against Rafah, an unprecedented warning from Washington.
• Read also: Hospitals in southern Gaza only have three days of fuel left
• Read also: Office in Israel: Quebec could support arms companies
• Read also: Gaza: Israel announces reopening of Kerem Shalom crossing
“If they enter Rafah, I will not deliver to them the weapons that have always been used (…) against cities,” he said in an interview with CNN.
“We will not deliver the weapons and artillery shells that have been used (so far),” Joe Biden said again.
This is the first time that the 81-year-old Democrat has publicly set conditions for American military support granted to Israel.
Asked about the US decision last week to suspend the delivery of a shipment of bombs, he commented: “Civilians were killed in Gaza because of these bombs,” adding: “It’s wrong.”
However, he said the United States would continue to “ensure that Israel remains protected by Iron Dome,” its air defense shield.
Asked about the military operation that Israel has already launched in Rafah, a town in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge, Joe Biden said that this operation did not affect “population centers”, therefore suggesting that this was not a major offensive requiring a reaction on its part.
“I said it clearly to Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Editor’s note) and to the war cabinet, they will not have our support if they really enter the population centers,” the American president said.
Joe Biden took on the role of primary supporter of Israel following the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, but his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has seen several episodes of high tension and could reach a breaking point on the question of Rafah.
According to a senior American official on condition of anonymity, a shipment consisting of “1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs” was suspended last week.
