US President Joe Biden said for the first time that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major attack on the city of Rafah, he will stop the supply of weapons to Israel. Biden says Israel is using it to kill civilians in Gaza. Biden has even said that Israel will have to choose between military operations in Rafah and American weapons.
This announcement by Biden is an important turning point in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. For some time, Biden was facing criticism for providing help to Israel. There were continuous demonstrations in support of Palestine in American universities, many American lawmakers also raised questions on the aid being sent to Israel. This is the reason why Biden has had to announce a reduction in the arms consignment sent to Israel.
One consignment has already been stopped
America has so far stopped a consignment of weapons to be given to Israel. According to reports, a consignment of bombs worth 2 thousand pounds was to be sent to Israel but that consignment was stopped last week itself. This has happened for the first time amid the war that has been going on for the last 7 months. Biden has admitted that American weapons have caused the deaths of civilians in Gaza and America does not want Israel to carry out the Rafah military operation.
Israel has the right to security
However, Biden has reiterated that Israel has the right to its security and America is not running away from Israel’s security. America will continue to provide explosives to Israel for defensive weapons like Iron Dome so that Israel can defend itself from attacks from the Middle East. But we will not send artillery. He said he had already told Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders that attacking populated areas in Rafah would limit US aid to Israel.
Israel started operation in Rafa
On May 7, the Israeli army seized the Rafah border and stormed Rafah. A day before the attack in Rafah, Israel had ordered one lakh civilians to flee to central Gaza and other areas. After which thousands of citizens have been seen moving from Rafah towards Khan Yunis. At the same time, Biden says that Israel has not yet attacked the residential areas of Rafah. We have been opposing the attack on Rafa from the beginning.
