In an exclusive interview with CNN US President Joe Biden said for the first time that he will suspend the shipment of some American weapons to Israel – which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in the Gaza Strip – if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion to the city of Rafah.
“Civilians were killed in Gaza as a result of these bombs and other ways in which they attack population centers,” Biden pointed out to Erin Burnett, news anchor. CNN, referring to the 900 kg bombs that were paused by the Biden administration last week.
“I made it clear that if they [Israel] go to Rafah – they have not yet gone to Rafah – I will not provide the weapons that have been used to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – [armas] that deal with this problem”, highlighted Biden.
The president's declaration that he is prepared to condition the shipment of American weapons on Israel's actions represents a turning point in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Furthermore, Biden admitting that American bombs were used to kill civilians in Gaza was an acknowledgment of the United States' role in the war.
The president is under pressure, including from members of his own party, to limit arms shipments amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
So far, the Democrat has resisted these calls and supported Israel's efforts to go after Hamas. However, an imminent invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million Palestinian civilians have taken shelter, appears to have changed the president's position.
“We are not moving away from Israel’s security. We are moving away from Israel’s ability to wage war in these areas,” she explained.
Biden further stated that the US would continue to supply defensive weapons to Israel, including for its Iron Dome air defense system, but other deliveries would be suspended if a major ground invasion of Rafah begins.
“We will continue to ensure that Israel is secure in relation to the Iron Dome and its ability to respond to attacks that have recently emerged in the Middle East,” he said.
“It’s just wrong. We will not provide weapons and artillery shells [para Israel no caso da invasão]”, he highlighted.
The United States has already halted shipments of “large payload munitions” due to possible Israeli operations in Rafah without a plan to protect civilians in the area, according to the Pentagon, although the administration has stated that a final decision on that shipping has not yet been taken.
The federal administration noted that it is analyzing the possible sale or transfer of other ammunition.
Israeli officials privately expressed to U.S. officials “deep frustration” over the pause in shipments, as well as U.S. press releases about the decision, according to one source.
Possible break with Netanyahu
Biden's public statement conditioning the shipment of American weapons to Israel's actions could increase tension between him and Netanyahu, with whom he spoke by phone on Monday (6).
The conversation came on the same day that Israel ordered tens of thousands of civilians out of parts of Rafah and conducted strikes on the city limits.
Biden highlighted that Israel's actions in Rafah have not yet crossed a “red line”, which would be entering densely populated areas in Gaza, even though its actions have caused tension in the region.
“They didn’t enter population centers. What they did is right on the border. And it is causing problems right now in relation to Egypt, which I have worked very hard to ensure that we have a [boa] relationship and help”, he pondered.
During the interview with CNN, he commented that he warned Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders that US support for operations in population centers was limited.
“I made it clear to Bibi [apelido de Netanyahu] and the war cabinet [de Israel]: they will not get our support if, in fact, they attack these population centers”, he warned.
The US president also said he warned Netanyahu about the risks of becoming “bogged down” in the Gaza Strip, drawing parallels with US operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I told Bibi, 'Don't make the same mistake we made in America [Estados Unidos]. We wanted to catch Bin Laden. We will help you capture Sinwar,'” he said, referring to the leader of Hamas in Gaza.
“It makes sense to get bin Laden; there was no point in trying to unify Afghanistan. In my opinion, it didn’t make sense to think that in Iraq they had a nuclear weapon,” Biden highlighted.
The conflict in the Middle East has consumed much of the US president's time in recent months, even as he works to promote his presidential campaign.
The Democrat's strong support for Israel sparked protests and anger across the US, including on college campuses and at events he attended, where posters labeled him “Genocide Joe.”
Asked about the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at American universities, Biden told CNN: “I definitely hear the message [dos manifestantes]”.
Still, he warned against protests that devolve into hate speech or anti-Semitism.
“There is a legitimate right to freedom of expression and protest. There is a legitimate right to do so. But there is no right to use hate speech. There is no right to threaten Jewish students. There is no legitimate right to block people from accessing classes. This is against the law,” she warned.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
