Biden Threatens Weapons Hold on Israeli Incursion into Rafah to Protect Civilians

In response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that should Israel choose to enter the densely populated area of Rafah, he will withhold the provision of certain weapons that have traditionally been utilized to address the situation in that region. Biden’s decision follows previous actions taken by the White House, including the suspension of deliveries of 2,000-pound bombs last week. During a CNN interview, Biden elaborated further, stating, “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—that deal with that problem.” This statement comes as concerns are raised regarding the safety and well-being of the approximately one million civilians currently taking refuge in Rafah.