President Biden has stated that he would stop the delivery of U.S. offensive weapons to Israel if the country proceeds with its planned ground invasion of Rafah. This decision comes in response to civilian casualties in Gaza caused by U.S.-supplied 2,000-pound bombs. The World Health Organization has warned that the closure of the Rafah border crossing by Israel would deplete health services in southern Gaza of fuel within three days. Both the Biden administration and aid groups emphasize the importance of keeping the crossing open for humanitarian aid.
Despite Israel's reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, no fuel or aid has entered through it, according to a spokeswoman for UNRWA. CIA Director William J. Burns reportedly met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel, although the details of the meeting remain undisclosed.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll, with over 34,904 people killed and 78,514 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. While Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas attack on October 7, including over 300 soldiers, it also reports 267 soldier deaths since the start of its military operation in Gaza.
President Biden's warning about halting offensive weapons deliveries to Israel has been welcomed by some Democratic lawmakers. Senator Chris Van Hollen commended the decision, stating that an invasion of Rafah would result in "untold civilian death & destruction." Representative Ilhan Omar also praised the move, calling it a response to the demands of young people across the country.
In a CNN interview, Biden emphasized that supplying weapons for an offensive in southern Gaza, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge, would be "just wrong." The Washington Post reported that the United States had already paused the shipment of thousands of weapons to Israel, including controversial 2,000-pound bombs, due to concerns over Israel's invasion plans. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the pause, citing a review of security assistance shipments in light of the events in Rafah.
However, the move has faced criticism from some Democrats and Republicans. Representative Ritchie Torres argued that withholding military aid undermines U.S. credibility as an ally of Israel. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell jointly criticized the decision, stating that it risks emboldening Israel's enemies and eroding trust in the United States.
The Biden administration has postponed a report to Congress on whether Israel's use of U.S.-supplied military equipment in Gaza has violated U.S. or international humanitarian law. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller assured that the assessment would be provided "in the very near future."
As the conflict continues, humanitarian aid is being loaded onto a ship in Cyprus for delivery to Gaza using a U.S.-built temporary pier. The pier, constructed with the help of about 1,000 U.S. troops, is expected to facilitate the daily delivery of aid into Gaza once fully operational.
President Biden's stance marks a significant shift, as he has traditionally been strongly supportive of Israel. This move reflects growing pressure to impose conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel or suspend it altogether, a demand that has been voiced by prominent Democrats and parts of Biden's base.