In an interview with news channel CNN, Joe Biden hardened the tone towards Israel. There will be a halt to the supply of offensive weapons and heavy ammunition if Israel launches a major invasion of Rafah.
Earlier this week it was announced that the US had blocked an ammunition delivery to Israel. In that case, these were heavy bombs (up to 900 kilos), which caused great destruction and therefore also disproportionately affected the civilian population.
In the interview with CNN, a rare interview for a president who shuns the press, Joe Biden specified that he will halt even more arms and ammunition deliveries if Israel begins a major invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah.
“I have made it clear (to Israel, ed.) that if they invade Rafah – and they have not yet done so – if they invade Rafah, I will not supply the weapons that have been historically used in cities.”
According to him, Israel’s war activities in Rafah have not yet reached population centers.
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“We will continue to ensure Israel’s defense,” Biden said. “But, it’s just wrong,” he said, referring to weapons and ammunition that, he admitted, have already been used on targets in population centers and have caused civilian casualties. The ammunition that would no longer be supplied also includes artillery shells, he added.
More than a million people are packed into Rafah. The US government has been warning for months against a major attack on that city. It is difficult to imagine that a major invasion would not lead to massive bloodshed.
So far, Biden’s visible frustration with Israel’s war strategy has not been followed by sanctions. It remained with generally ignored warnings. With the blocking of ammunition supplies and the explicit acknowledgment that US bombs have killed civilians, the strategy has hardened. It remains to be seen whether action will be put into words regarding further prevention of weapons and ammunition.
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