American diplomat Richard Haass described President Joe Biden’s statement that the U.S. would stop supplying certain weapons to Israel if it invaded Rafah in the Gaza Strip as an earthquake. The tension between Israel, Hamas, and mediators has been high in recent weeks, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushing for an invasion of Rafah despite warnings from numerous governments and humanitarian organizations about the humanitarian consequences.
President Biden made it clear that the U.S. would not supply weapons historically used in dealing with Rafah if Israel went ahead with the invasion. The Pentagon confirmed a pause in the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, citing the need for more precise operations to reduce civilian casualties. Netanyahu expressed that Israel would stand alone and fight if the U.S. stopped weapons shipments, with other Israeli lawmakers criticizing Biden despite the U.S. being a major supporter of Israel militarily.
While some Israeli security experts believe the weapons pause will not impact planned operations in Rafah, Biden’s move is seen as a symbolic message. Analysts argue whether the pause will have a significant impact, highlighting concerns about Iranian and Hamas emboldenment. Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed the decision, stating the U.S. should not support Netanyahu’s actions against Palestinians. Human rights organizations also applauded the move but criticized Israel for using American weapons to kill civilians.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in thousands of casualties, with Hamas holding Israeli hostages. The crisis was triggered by a terror attack by Hamas on Israel, leading to the current escalation. Analysts like Michael Koplow see Biden’s warning as a significant shift in U.S.-Israel relations and warn of a perilous situation. The U.S. decision to pause weapons shipments highlights growing tensions and fractures in the relationship between the two countries, with implications for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
