By In a significant shift in U.S. policy, President Joe Biden has declared that he will halt the shipment of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah.
This announcement comes amid growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the United States’ role in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
During an exclusive interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett on “Erin Burnett OutFront,” Biden acknowledged that American bombs have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, particularly in population centers.
He specifically referred to the 2,000-pound bombs, for which he had already paused shipments 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 stated firmly.
This announcement marks a turning point in the U.S. approach to the conflict, as the president has faced immense pressure, including from members of his own party, to limit arms shipments in light of the humanitarian crisis.
Until now, Biden had strongly supported Israel’s efforts to combat Hamas while resisting calls to restrict weapons supplies.
However, the looming threat of a major ground invasion of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter, appears to have altered the president’s stance.
Biden clarified that while the U.S. would continue to provide defensive weapons to Israel, such as the Iron Dome air defense system, other shipments would cease if a large-scale invasion of Rafah were to commence.
“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.”
The Pentagon has already paused a shipment of “high-payload munitions” due to Israel’s potential operations in Rafah without a plan for the civilians there, although a final decision on that shipment has not been made.
The administration is also reviewing the potential sale or transfer of other munitions.
Israeli officials have privately expressed “deep frustration” to U.S. officials regarding the pause in shipments and the U.S. media briefings on the decision, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Biden’s public linking of American weapons shipments to Israel’s conduct could further strain his relationship with Netanyahu, with whom he spoke by phone on Monday.
During that conversation, Israel had ordered the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from Rafah and launched strikes near the city’s border areas.
Biden emphasized that Israel’s actions in Rafah had not yet crossed a red line by entering heavily populated zones, even though their actions had caused tensions in the region, particularly with Egypt.
The president said he had conveyed to Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders that American 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 stated.
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to demand much of Biden’s attention, he is also working to promote his domestic record to American voters.
In the CNN interview, he sought to reframe perceptions of the U.S. economy, highlighting strong job growth and efforts to combat corporate greed while questioning surveys that show voters remain pessimistic about the country’s direction.
Biden’s decision to condition American weaponry on Israel’s actions in Gaza represents a significant shift in U.S. policy and underscores the growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will be closely monitoring the impact of this announcement on the conflict and the relationship between the United States and Israel.
