In a remarkable twist, the US government on Thursday retracted its statement on support for Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip, after previously saying it was providing Israel with information to target Hamas leaders.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had said earlier in the day that the US provided Israel with targeting information to include Yahya Sinwar, the former Israeli prisoner who now heads the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Gaza. But he later denied that, saying he did not discuss the details of counter-terrorism cooperation with Israel.
Kirby’s withdrawal came a day after President Biden warned Israel that he would not supply weapons if Israel invaded the city of Rafah. Rafah is a city in southern Gaza where many displaced people have sought refuge. Biden said in an interview with CNN that he had made it clear to Israel that he would not supply the weapons historically used to tackle Rafah.
Kirby said the US had offered Israel alternatives to a ground invasion of Rafah. He said the US hoped Israel would carry out a limited operation at the border crossing with Egypt, which Israel seized on Tuesday. He also said the US wanted Israel to open the other border crossing, Kerem Shalom, which connects Israel to southern Gaza, for humanitarian aid.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan reacted disappointingly to the American arms decision. It is “difficult and very disappointing” for Israel, Erdan said in an interview with public broadcaster Kan, writes The Israel Times.
Israeli MP Tally Gotlive, from the party of war Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, went a step further and issued an ultimatum to the US. “Maybe instead of using a precise missile to take down a specific building, I’ll use my imprecise missiles, and just destroy ten buildings. That’s what I’ll do.”
Genocide
US-backed Israel has been carrying out a deadly offensive on Gaza since October. Nearly 35,000 Palestinians have been killed and 80,000 others injured, mostly children and women. Nearly nine in ten residents are displaced and suffer from a lack of food, water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a preliminary ruling in January, this World Court ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and to stop obstructing international humanitarian aid to the suffering civilians in Gaza.
In a new ruling at the end of March, the ICJ again ordered Israel to allow emergency aid facilities to Gazans.
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