Israel calls US announcement to stop arms deliveries in Rafah offensive ‘disappointing’

It is “disappointing” that Israel has to choose between American weapons and a large-scale offensive in Rafah. Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said this to Israeli media in response to US President Joe Biden’s announcement. He stated that the US will stop arms deliveries if the Israeli attack on Rafah continues into populated areas.

UN Ambassador Erdan called this “difficult and disappointing”. He added: “There are many Jewish Americans who voted for the president and voted for the Democratic Party, and now they are wavering.”

A few hours earlier, Biden had made it clear in an interview with CNN that attacks on the population in Rafah, located in the south of the Gaza Strip, constituted the border as far as he was concerned. If Israel passes this, the US will stop arms deliveries.

Washington has previously warned Israel of an offensive on Rafah. Two months ago he called a ground invasion of the city a “red line” because of the impending humanitarian catastrophe. At that time, however, he did not attach such concrete consequences to this as last night.

The United States is Israel’s main partner in the war against Hamas. Never before has Biden threatened to stop arms deliveries. Biden recently managed to convince Congress to vote for a new billion-dollar package of Israeli aid.