Joe Biden threatens to suspend arms deliveries to Israel in the event of a major offensive against Rafah

This is the first time that the American president has publicly set conditions for American aid to the Jewish state, its historic ally.

“They won’t have our support if they actually enter the population centers.” Joe Biden warned, Wednesday May 8, that he “would not deliver” certain weapons to Israel in the event of a major offensive against Rafah. “If they enter Rafah, I will not deliver to them the weapons that have always been used (…) against cities”, said the 81-year-old Democrat in an interview with CNN. This measure particularly concerns “artillery shell”he clarified.

This is the first time that the American president has publicly set conditions for American aid to the Jewish state, its historic ally. Asked about the US decision last week to suspend the delivery of a shipment of bombs, he commented: “Civilians have been killed in Gaza because of these bombs (…) It’s bad.” However, he assured that the United States would continue to “ensure that Israel is protected by Iron Dome”its anti-aircraft defense shield.

The red line has “not yet” been crossed

Asked about the military operation that Israel has already launched in Rafah, a town in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge, Joe Biden said that it did not affect “population centers”therefore suggesting that this is not a major offensive requiring a reaction on its part.

Asked if Israel had already crossed a red line in Rafah, he replied: “Not yet.” “We are not distancing ourselves from Israel’s security, we are distancing ourselves from Israel’s ability to wage war in these areas.”, did he declare. This decision comes seven months after the start of the war, which left at least 34,904 dead, the Hamas Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

Joe Biden took on the role of primary supporter of Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7, but his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has experienced several episodes of high tension, and could reach a breaking point around the question of Rafah.