Joe Biden is very close to showing the red card to Benjamin Netanyahu. The American president in fact warned on Wednesday that he “would not deliver” certain weapons to Israel, in particular “artillery shells”, in the event of a major offensive against Rafah.
While the United States is Israel’s primary military supporter, this is the first time that the American president has publicly set conditions for American military support for the Jewish state.
The death of civilians with American bombs: “It’s bad”
“If they enter Rafah, I will not deliver to them the weapons that have always been used (…) against cities,” warned the 81-year-old democrat in an interview with CNN. “We will not deliver the weapons and artillery shells that have been used” until then.
Asked about the American decision last week to suspend the delivery of a shipment of bombs, Joe Biden commented: “Civilians were killed in Gaza because of these bombs” American, and added: “It’s bad. » However, he assured that the United States would continue to “ensure that Israel is protected by the Iron Dome”, its anti-aircraft defense shield.
Regarding the military operation that Israel has already launched in Rafah, a locality in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge, the White House tenant explained that it did not affect “population centers”, therefore suggesting that this is not a major offensive requiring a reaction on its part.
The red line is getting closer
Asked if Israel had already crossed a red line in Rafah, he replied: “Not yet. » “I said it clearly to Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and to the war cabinet, they will not have our support if they really enter the population centers,” said the American president. “We are not distancing ourselves from Israel’s security, we are distancing ourselves from Israel’s ability to wage war in these areas.”
Joe Biden took on the role of primary supporter of Israel following the unprecedented 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 Rafah question. According to a senior American official on condition of anonymity, a shipment consisting of “1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs” was also suspended last week.