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In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, President Joe Biden stated that the United States would cease supplying offensive weapons to Israel if it proceeds with its planned invasion of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. This announcement on Wednesday marks the first time conditions have been placed on aid to Israel and signifies a significant shift in relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden told Burnett “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers.” “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah ― they haven’t gone in Rafah yet ― 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,” Biden said.

The President made it clear that the United States remains committed to protecting Israel but not being part of any attack on Rafah. “We’re going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently,” he said, adding, “We’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells.”

In the past, the U.S. has provided significant military aid to Israel, a practice that has intensified following the Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of around 250 individuals by militants. The most evident signs of the increasing rift between President Biden’s administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government are Biden’s recent remarks and his decision to halt a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel. On Wednesday, Biden stated that Israel’s conduct around Rafah had not yet breached his red lines, but he reiterated that Israel must take greater measures to safeguard civilian lives in Gaza.

Rafah, currently sheltering 1 million displaced Palestinians, stands as one of the Gaza Strip’s last safe zones. Humanitarian organizations express grave concerns that a comprehensive Israeli incursion into the city could lead to extensive civilian casualties. The European Union, Canada, and the United Nations have all urged Israel to refrain from entering Rafah and to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

A debate has arisen within the Biden administration regarding the shipment of 1,800 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) each and 1,700 bombs weighing 500 pounds (225 kilograms) each, as disclosed by a senior U.S. administration official under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject. The primary concern of the U.S. centers on the larger explosives and their potential use in densely populated urban settings.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indeed identified Rafah as a significant target in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The situation in the region is complex, and there are several factors at play.

1. Ceasefire Proposals and Israeli Rejection:
   • Recently, Hamas announced that it had agreed to an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal. However, Israel rejected this proposal, and its military forces took control of the Palestinian side of Egypt’s border with Gaza in Rafah¹.
   • Israel wants to reserve the right to continue military operations in Gaza, which makes a permanent ceasefire seem unlikely as long as the war persists¹.
2. Rafah’s Significance:
   • Israel’s bombing of Rafah aims to disband Hamas battalions and seize control of the Gaza-Egyptian crossing. Israel accuses Hamas of using this crossing to smuggle weapons into the besieged enclave.
   • However, closing the crossing would have disastrous consequences for the more than one million Palestinians living in Rafah, most of whom are already displaced¹.
3. Netanyahu’s Dilemma:
   • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a conundrum. He has promised victory against Hamas to the Israeli public, and a majority of Jewish Israelis support an invasion of Rafah¹.
   • The goal appears to be the destruction of Gaza in its totality, according to experts¹.

In summary, the situation in Rafah remains tense, with conflicting interests and humanitarian concerns. Israel’s actions in the region continue to impact civilians and exacerbate the conflict¹. If you’d like more information, feel free to explore the news sources linked below:

• Middle East crisis live: Hamas condemns Israeli order to evacuate Rafah²
• Netanyahu: Israel to enter Rafah in southern Gaza ‘with or without’ hostage deal³
• Why is Israel’s Netanyahu firm on attacking Rafah?⁴

This is an ongoing story and will be updated.

Jim Williams reports on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, providing both written articles and video coverage on a range of issues in the Middle East.