In a significant shift in U.S. policy, President Joe Biden has warned Israel that further arms shipments could be halted if it proceeds with a full-scale assault on Rafah, a densely populated area in southern Gaza currently sheltering over a million Palestinians. This announcement comes in the wake of halted bomb shipments and ongoing cease-fire negotiations with Hamas, indicating rising tensions and increasing scrutiny of Israel’s military strategies.
Israeli responses have ranged from dismay to outrage, with key officials criticizing the U.S. decision as detrimental to their national security. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz staunchly defended Israel’s actions on social media, asserting the existential nature of the conflict. Meanwhile, right-wing members of the Israeli government, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have expressed severe dissatisfaction, with some officials labeling the move as an arms embargo.
Despite the halt in specific munitions shipments, experts like Alex Plitsas from the Atlantic Council suggest that the impact on Israeli military operations might be minimal and largely symbolic. However, the Biden administration’s decision highlights a broader discomfort with Israel’s aggressive tactics in densely populated areas. The ongoing conflict has already led to significant casualties, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 34,900 deaths in Gaza since the conflict’s escalation last October.
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