If Israel attacks Rafah, they will stop arms shipments: Biden

US President Joe Biden warned for the first time in the nearly seven-month-long offensive in Gaza on Wednesday that he would cut off arms supplies to Israel if Rafah is attacked.

According to the news agency (AFP), in an interview given to the American broadcaster CNN, Joe Biden also expressed regret over the fact that the use of American bombs on the Palestinian territory cost the lives of civilians.

President Joe Biden’s warning comes at a time when the United States recently halted a large-scale shipment of American bombs to Israel because it appeared that Palestinian refugees sheltering near the Israel-Egypt border. is ready for a major attack on Rafah, a city full of

Biden said: ‘If they go into Rafah, I will not provide the weapons that have been used.’ He said that the supply of weapons that have historically been used for Rafah and other cities will be stopped.

Joe Biden has long been pressing Congress to end the $3 billion in arms the US sends to Israel each year.

But U.S. officials say privately that they were forced to do so because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on attacking the Palestinian city despite President Biden’s repeated public pleas to refrain from attacking Rafah. what

The Biden administration halted the delivery of some of the bombs last week amid growing pressure from the left of his own party to limit arms shipments.

Biden said: ‘These bombs killed civilians in Gaza. This is absolutely wrong.’

Biden is wary of losing the support of moderate voters in future elections if he goes further in support of Israel, while Netanyahu knows he needs American support at a time when the world is turning against Israel. But there is great anger.

In an interview with CNN, Biden asserted that ‘we are retreating not from Israel’s security, but from Israel’s ability to wage war in (urban) areas.’

The Biden administration has previously taken small steps to show displeasure with Netanyahu, including allowing the UN Security Council to pass a resolution supporting the ceasefire.

Major US interventions in the past have changed Israel’s behavior. In 1991, Israel participated in the Madrid Conference, which led to a peace process with the Palestinians, after then-President George W. Bush stopped guaranteeing US loans for the construction of Jewish settlements.

In 1956, intense American pressure, including economic threats, forced Israel, as well as Britain and France, to relinquish control of the Suez Canal from Egypt.