Israeli Prime Minister criticizes US President Biden for stopping weapon shipments

Today, Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized US President Joe Biden because his administration stopped sending troops to Israel as a result of its military operation in Rafah, and Washington said that they had proposed introducing Tel Aviv’s “alternatives” to the city. .

Earlier today, CNN reported that Netanyahu was saying that Biden made a mistake by stopping the shipment of weapons to Israel.

In a separate interview with the online program “Dr. Phil Prime Time”, the Prime Minister of Israel expressed his hope that he and the US President would be able to overcome the inter- their differences regarding the war in the Gaza Strip.

During the interview, Netanyahu admitted that hundreds of soldiers were lost in the besieged Strip, claiming that his forces destroyed 20 out of 24 battalions of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) , and affirming that the movement in Rafah must be defeated, as he said

Netanyahu said – in a statement issued by his office yesterday, Thursday – “We will fight with our nails if we have to,” in response to a warning issued by Biden that Washington would freeze arms to Israel if it attacked Rafah.

For his part, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Michael Herzog, said – Thursday night – that the direction taken by the Biden administration is not beneficial to the negotiations between Israel and the United States, and will send the wrong message to the region.

for the first time.. #Biden It sets conditions on the supply of arms to Israel and says: Our bombs have been used to kill civilians in #Gaza#Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/Y1rEmHqiy8

– Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) May 9, 2024

Stop weapons

Before that, the American President warned that his country would stop supplying weapons to Israel if it launched a major military operation in Rafah, and Biden’s words included, for the first time once, American recognition that the bombs given to Israel were used to kill Palestine. civilians.

He also said that he is working with Arab countries ready to rebuild Gaza and help reach a two-state solution.

Yesterday, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Israel has enough weapons to carry out an operation in Rafah.

An Al Jazeera journalist said that the security ministerial council met in Israel on Thursday night to discuss the latest developments regarding a possible exchange agreement and the Rafah process.

For its part, the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the War Council and the security ministerial team met on Thursday night, because estimates indicate that Israel is in trouble. “Does he continue with his military operations in Rafah, or does he align himself with the threat of the American President and wait several weeks until the majority of the residents are displaced ? “

An Al Jazeera journalist monitors the reactions to America’s decision to stop the shipment of weapons to Israel#News #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/j5W2k4BsLw

– Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) May 9, 2024

American preferences

Meanwhile, the White House Strategic Communications Coordinator, John Kirby, said yesterday afternoon that the US administration had proposed “alternative options” for the Israelis to defeat Hamas in Rafah does not involve large-scale ground operations.

He explained that President Biden does not want Israel to use certain weapons in certain areas.

The American official said that the work carried out by Israel in Rafah was limited, and aimed to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and money into Gaza, as he said.

He continued that Washington’s position on Israel regarding Rafah will depend on the decisions made by Tel Aviv in this regard, stressing that he agrees with the Israelis on the need to inflict a permanent defeat on Hamas.

Reuters also reported that the White House said President Joe Biden ordered his team to continue working with Israel to “deliver a permanent defeat on Hamas.”

In this context, the Politico newspaper reported that White House officials said that Mr. Biden’s opposition to Israel’s large-scale attack on Rafah has been consistent for months, justifying his military decision to hold back from Israel by saying that the Hamas movement is no longer a serious threat. after more than 7 months of war.

Movement of arms

For his part, the Pentagon spokesman, Pat Ryder, confirmed that the United States has not yet made a decision regarding the fate of the shipment of weapons delivered to Israel.

He said the Pentagon is now reviewing US military shipments, especially those that could cause widespread damage in populated areas.

He continued that the US military has no estimate of the number of civilians killed by American weapons used by Israel in Gaza, saying that his country expects Israel to use American weapons in accordance with the laws of -national.

Murphy said it is not in Washington’s interest to help Israel attack Rafah (Reuters)

the power of Hamas

In comments inside the US, Reuters quoted Democratic Senator Chris Murphy as saying that the Rafah operation was unlikely to affect Hamas’ long-term strength.

Murphy said it is not in the strategic or moral interest of the United States to help Israel launch a military campaign in Rafah.

Republican lawmakers sharply attacked President Joe Biden against the background of the decision to stop sending some weapons to Israel, because the decision was governed by election matters.

Regarding the former President and presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, he accused Biden of abandoning Israel, stressing that he had never seen anything like it before.