Biden Halts Weapons Shipments to Israel over Gaza Airstrikes: Tensions Rise Amid Ongoing Conflict

On Wednesday, American President Joe Biden announced that if Israel continues its ground offensive in Rafah, the United States will halt the supply of weapons and bombs. Despite the US’s clear position that an offensive in the southern Gaza Strip city must include a credible plan to protect civilians, Israeli troops proceeded with airstrikes and targeted operations in Rafah. This led to concerns about the situation in Rafah, resulting in the suspension of an arms shipment by the US, with further arms deliveries under review.

Biden expressed regret that American weapons were being used in Gaza, acknowledging the civilian casualties caused by these bombings. He emphasized that ensuring Israel’s security does not require the use of weapons against civilian populations. The US stands firm in its position against attacks on cities and will not condone actions that result in civilian casualties.

While Biden made it clear that Israel has not yet crossed a red line by entering Rafah’s population centers, he reiterated his stance during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, despite these warnings, Israeli troops continued their operations targeting cities, which resulted in further tensions between Israel and Palestine.

Biden emphasized that weapons and artillery that target cities will not be supplied by the US. He also stressed that Israel’s defense systems such as Iron Dome will continue to receive support from the US. Nevertheless, he made it clear that once Israeli troops enter Rafah’s population centers and cross a red line, arms supplies from the US will stop immediately.

The suspension of arms shipments by the US has brought attention to the plight of Gazans living near Rafah’s border crossing. The city is home to approximately one and a half million Gazans who are already struggling with limited resources due to ongoing conflicts with Israel.

In conclusion, President Biden has reiterated his stance against attacks on civilians while remaining firm on his position regarding Israel’s security measures. The suspension of arms shipments by the US has raised concerns about the impact on civilians living near Rafah’s border crossing while also highlighting ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine.