US President: US is not going to present Israel with weapons for army offensive in Rafah | EUROtoday

Status: 01:38 a.m | Reading time: 3 minutes

US President Joe Biden has threatened Israel to not provide the nation with sure weapons throughout a significant offensive within the metropolis of Rafah within the south of the Gaza Strip. Biden advised the US broadcaster CNN in an interview on Wednesday (native time). If Israel invades Rafah, the US “would not supply the weapons and artillery shells.”

The US has already suspended a cargo of bombs to Israel. When requested about this determination, Biden mentioned: “Civilians were killed in Gaza by these bombs.” According to US info, the supply accommodates 1,800 907-kilogram bombs and 1,700 226-kilogram bombs.

The USA will proceed to be dedicated to Israel's protection and can provide missiles for the Iron Dome interceptor system and different defensive weapons.

Attacks on “population centers” are “just wrong”

Israeli troopers superior into elements of Rafah within the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening. According to its personal statements, the military additionally took management of the border crossing on the Palestinian aspect.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the operation in Rafah is aimed toward releasing the remaining hostages and destroying Hamas. The USA, as Israel's most essential ally, had repeatedly warned Israel's authorities in latest days and weeks towards a large-scale floor offensive in Rafah – Biden spoke of a “red line” in March.

Now the US president argued that the Israeli army has not but “advanced into the population centers – what they have done is right on the border.” He made it clear to Netanyahu and his battle cupboard that they may not depend on US help “if they actually go to these population centers.” It is “simply wrong” – and the USA can’t present the weapons and artillery for it.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had not too long ago confirmed that the US was already withholding an ammunition cargo to the Israeli armed forces due to Israel's actions in Rafah.

The US authorities made it clear from the start that Israel shouldn’t launch a significant assault in Rafah with out taking into consideration and defending the civilians within the space, Austin mentioned. While the US authorities assessed the state of affairs, the bomb supply was stopped. He didn't give any particulars.

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The White House was additionally very reserved and didn’t reveal any particulars. When requested about media reviews that the cargo would comprise hundreds of bombs, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned she wouldn’t remark.

In the CNN interview, Biden was requested whether or not civilians had been killed in Gaza with the kind of US bombs whose supply is at the moment on maintain. Biden mentioned: “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a result of these bombs and other methods they use to attack population centers.”

Israel is sticking to its plans for a floor offensive in Rafah regardless of worldwide criticism and ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the discharge of hostages.

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More than 1,000,000 persons are at the moment mentioned to be looking for refuge there from the preventing. Israel describes town within the south of the Gaza Strip because the final remaining stronghold of the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas.