Biden to Halt Weapon Shipments if Israel Enters Rafah Population Centers

By Hamodia Staff

President Joe Biden warned that the United States will halt shipment of American weapons to Israel if the IDF engages in a major invasion of population centers in the city of Rafah.

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden said in an interview with CNN. His remarks were in reference to the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs that were paused last week.

“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in Rafah yet – if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” Biden said.

The latest announcement of applying conditions on delivery of American weaponry is the first time such rhetoric has been used during the war in Gaza, and the first time that Biden has accused Israel of using the weapons on civilians.

Democrats have applied extreme pressure on Biden to restrict shipments of arms during what they term a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We’re not walking away from Israel’s security. We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas,” Biden said.

Biden said he would continue providing defensive weapons to Israel, including for its Iron Dome air defense system, but other shipments would end if Israel launches a major ground invasion of Rafah.

“We’re going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently,” he said. “But it’s, it’s just wrong. We’re not going to – we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells.”

In testimony before  Congress, Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin acknowledged the halting of delivery of certain weapons, though he said a final decision had not been made.

Israel has begun entering Rafah, taking positions along the border with Egypt in order to prevent the smuggling of arms. The IDF has also ordered civilians to evacuate certain areas of the city where it is planning further military action.

President Biden had a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in which they discussed Israel’s actions in Rafah.

“They haven’t gone into the population centers. What they did is right on the border. And it’s causing problems with, right now, in terms of – with Egypt, which I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help,” Biden said.

He conveyed to the prime minister that US support for operations in population centers was limited.

“I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet: They’re not going to get our support, if in fact they go on these population centers,” he said.

Biden’s support for Israel has generated protests and anger, including on college campuses and at his events, and he acknowledged, “Absolutely, I hear the message.” Still, he warned against protests that veer into hate speech or antisemitism or lawlessness.