President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that American munitions have been deployed in Gaza resulting in civilian casualties, and he reiterated his administration's stance to withhold arms that could aid Israel in a significant incursion into Rafah.
Rafah, located in southern Gaza, has become a sanctuary for over a million Palestinians. According to a spokesperson from Al Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah, at least 30 individuals, including women and children, have been killed in Rafah since Tuesday. The Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, reported that more than 33,000 people have been killed overall in Gaza.
During a rare major network television interview with CNN's Erin Burnett, the president was asked about the shipment of 2,000-pound U.S. bombs to Israel and whether they had been used against civilians in Gaza. Biden confirmed that civilians had been killed in Gaza due to these bombs and other military actions targeting civilian areas.
Regarding the possibility of Israel's incursion into Rafah, Biden stated, "I made it clear that 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." He indicated that the U.S. had temporarily halted a shipment of such weapons, but clarified that Israel had not yet crossed the red line that would trigger a complete cessation of weapon supplies.
The White House described Israel's incursion into Rafah as "limited in scope" thus far. In response to the U.S. withholding the bombs, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Daniel Hagari, emphasized Israel's responsibility for its security interests and its commitment to the U.S.'s regional interests.
Biden's comments in the CNN interview represent his strongest stance yet on curtailing U.S. aid to Israel. He reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to ensuring Israel's security but emphasized that the U.S. would not supply weapons or artillery shells used in actions that violate this commitment.
When asked about Israel's current actions in Rafah, Biden clarified that Israel had not yet entered population centers but had conducted operations near the border, causing tensions with Egypt. He emphasized his communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, making it clear that U.S. support would not be extended if Israel were to enter population centers in Rafah.