President Joe Biden has threatened to withhold US weapons from Israel if they proceed with a major offensive in the city of Rafah, following multiple attempts to convince Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider the invasion. The decision was made after warnings and discussions between Biden, his national security team, and Israeli officials about alternative methods to target Hamas without causing harm to the civilian population in Rafah. Despite pressure from progressives to address humanitarian suffering in Gaza, Biden had been hesitant to publicly break ties with Netanyahu.
Efforts to dissuade Israel from invading Rafah were unsuccessful, leading Biden to publicly announce the consequences of such an offensive. The administration paused the shipment of bombs to Israel and threatened to withhold artillery support as well. Israeli officials were surprised by the public announcement and downplayed its significance, stating that they were prepared to stand alone if necessary. Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu has grown throughout the conflict, but he maintained that the US would continue to support Israel as its most stalwart ally.
Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu has faced challenges, particularly following the accidental killing of aid workers in Gaza. The president expressed fury at the lack of accountability in the incident and warned Netanyahu of potential consequences if Israel did not change its approach. It marked a turning point in their relationship, with Biden issuing a warning about reevaluating US support for Israel in the conflict. Despite Israel’s efforts to increase humanitarian aid, doubts remained about their intentions in Rafah, with concerns raised about protecting civilians during any offensive.
Criticism from political opponents and members of Biden’s own party followed his announcement to condition aid to Israel based on their actions in Rafah. Republicans accused him of abandoning Israel, while some Democrats expressed disagreement with his decision. Despite Biden’s assertion that he was not walking away from Israel’s security, there were concerns about how the move would impact the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Democratic lawmakers expressed a range of opinions on the issue, with some calling for more action and transparency from the administration.
Biden’s stance on conditioning aid to Israel marks a significant shift in US policy towards the conflict in Gaza. While some Democrats and progressives welcomed the move, others felt it did not go far enough in holding Israel accountable. The decision to withhold weapons shipments to Israel was seen as a step in the right direction by some, but questions remained about the effectiveness of such measures in influencing Israeli actions. Overall, Biden’s tough stance on the situation in Rafah has raised concerns and generated mixed reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
