Joe Biden warns Israel: US will withhold weapons if it invades Rafah

President Joe Biden has warned Israel that the U.S. will halt weapon supplies if Israeli forces launch a major invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. This warning marks Biden's strongest stance yet against an Israeli assault on Rafah, highlighting a growing rift between the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. has paused a shipment of heavy bombs destined for Israel, expressing concern over civilian casualties in Gaza. Despite this, the U.S. will continue providing defensive weapons, such as the Iron Dome system, to Israel.

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President on Wednesday publicly warned for the first time that the would stop supplying it if Israeli forces make a major of , a refugee-packed city in southern . "I made it clear that if they go into Rafah ..

., I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities - that deal with that problem," said in an interview with . Biden's comments represent his strongest public language to date in his effort to deter an Israeli assault on Rafah while underscoring a growing rift between the U.



S. and its strongest ally in the Middle East. Biden acknowledged U.

S. weapons have been used by Israel to kill civilians in Gaza, where Israel has mounted a seven-month-old offensive aimed at annihilating . Israel's campaign has so far killed 34,789 Palestinians, mostly civilians, the said.

"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," he said when asked about 2,000-pound bombs sent to Israel. A senior U.S.

official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington had carefully reviewed the delivery of weapons that might be used in Rafah and as a result paused a shipment consisting of 1,800 2,000-pound (907-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs. Israel's ambassador, Gilad Erdan, earlier this week called Washington's decision to delay shipments "very disappointing" although he did not believe the U.S.

would stop supplying arms to Israel. Israel this week attacked.