President Joe Biden is facing criticism from lawmakers in both parties for his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons. The decision to make this ultimatum public in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett was met with pointed criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio questioned the logic of withholding weapons that could potentially reduce civilian casualties if the concern is about Palestinian casualties. This ultimatum marked a turning point in US-Israeli relations since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began seven months ago.
President Biden’s announcement of withholding weapons from Israel should they enter Rafah has sparked backlash, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham calling it the worst decision in the US-Israel relationship. Other Republicans, such as Senator Rick Scott of Florida, view Biden’s decision as a negative message for Israel and accuse him of aligning with the pro-Hamas wing of his party. However, the criticism is not restricted to Republicans, with a group of 26 House Democrats expressing concerns about the message being sent to terrorist groups by withholding weapons shipments to Israel. Democratic representatives have offered varying levels of support for Biden’s decision, with some emphasizing the specific types of weapons being withheld and others highlighting the importance of mitigating civilian casualties.
Some Democrats have defended Biden’s decision, noting that it was reached after multiple discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy highlighted the lessons learned from previous US military campaigns and the importance of minimizing civilian casualties to prevent strengthening terrorist organizations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel had killed more civilians than Hamas terrorists in its Gaza operations, urging Israel to do more to prevent civilian deaths. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported a high number of casualties as a result of Israeli military actions.
The State Department released a report stating that US weapons may have been used by Israeli forces in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law, although it did not officially state that Israel had violated the law. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the report for not providing a more thorough analysis of the situation and potentially giving political cover to Netanyahu. Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity in the report regarding whether Israel had violated international law by withholding humanitarian aid to Gaza. Despite the criticisms, some Democrats, such as Senator Chris Coons, believe that President Biden has taken forceful action to address the situation and has faced backlash for his decisions.
Overall, President Biden’s ultimatum to withhold weapons from Israel in response to a potential offensive in Rafah has generated strong reactions from lawmakers across party lines. The decision has raised concerns about the impact on civilian casualties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the potential consequences for US-Israeli relations. The debate over the handling of the situation and the implications for international law and humanitarian aid continues to be a point of contention among lawmakers and government officials.
