On May 9, 2024, US President Joe Biden publicly issued his first warning to Israel on Wednesday, stating that if Israeli forces launch a large-scale invasion of the southern Gaza City of Rafah, the US will cease providing offensive weapons. Biden made these remarks during an interview with CNN, emphasizing that while the US remains committed to Israel’s defense, they will supply Iron Dome rockets and other defensive weapons but will withhold weapons and ammunition if Israel invades Rafah.
This statement by Biden marks his strongest public stance to date in an effort to prevent an attack on Rafah by Israel. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused over 34,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, including many civilians, leading to a humanitarian crisis and sparking anti-war and anti-Semitic sentiments across the US.
The escalating Israel-Hamas conflict has forced over one million Palestinians to seek refuge in Rafah. In response to concerns over a potential full-scale Israeli invasion of Rafah, the US recently suspended the shipment of a batch of heavy bombs to Israel, including 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.
Biden also criticized Israel for the inappropriate use of heavy bombs resulting in civilian casualties in Gaza. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the delay in the supply of weapons, stating that the US paused the transportation of a batch of high-explosive ammunition.
While expressing disappointment in Washington’s decision, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan does not believe the US will entirely halt arms supplies to Israel, suggesting political pressure on Biden from Congress, US campuses, and upcoming elections as influencing factors.
The decision faced criticism from Republican members of the House and Senate, with accusations of potentially emboldening Israel’s enemies and calls for transparency regarding the nature of the review process. Senator Lindsey Graham warned of consequences if the US were to withhold necessary weapons for Israel’s defense in the face of significant threats.
Austin reassured lawmakers that the US will equip Israel with appropriate weapons for their missions, advocating for more precise actions from Israel to avoid collateral damage in densely populated areas. The seizure of control of the Rafah border crossing by the Israeli military on Tuesday was labeled by the White House as a limited operation, not a full-scale invasion of the city.