President Joe Biden has threatened to halt the shipment of US offensive weapons to Israel if the country invades Rafah in Gaza. The potential invasion comes as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread destruction. According to reports, President Biden acknowledged that American bombs have killed civilians in Gaza and warned that he would not supply artillery shells or weapons used for population center invasions if Israel goes through with the invasion.
Israel is planning a ground invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than one million Palestinians have taken refuge. The US has been Israel's biggest supplier of weapons, and it accelerated deliveries after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. However, President Biden has used his leverage over Israel's weapons to try to influence how the war is waged.
The United States and its closest Middle East ally are experiencing a growing rift over the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. The US already halted the shipment of 3,500 bombs last week out of concern that they might be used in a major assault on Rafah. This is the first time President Biden has used his influence to try to prevent Israel from using American-supplied weapons in population centers.
President Biden's remarks underscore the growing tension between the US and Israel over the war in Gaza. The Israeli strikes in Rafah have not yet qualified as a full-scale invasion, but they are causing problems with Egypt, which has been working to improve its relationship with the US. President Biden has made it clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet that they will not receive US support if they go on population center invasions.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war is making a significant impact on the upcoming presidential election. Biden has faced intense backlash from the progressive left for providing aid to Israel, leaving voters in critical swing states threatening to stay home or vote for another candidate. Anti-Israel protests have erupted across the country, particularly on college campuses, where chants of 'Genocide Joe' are heard.