City shelters displaced people in the Gaza Strip; US president says Israel has not yet crossed the red line in the region
US President Joe Biden (Democratic Party) said on Wednesday (May 8, 2024) that he will suspend the shipment of weapons to Israel if Tel Aviv orders a major invasion of Rafah. It is estimated that the city, located in the south of the Gaza Strip, is home to more than 1 million displaced people.
“I made it clear [a Israel] that if they go to Rafah – they have not yet gone to Rafah – I will not provide the weapons”, declared Biden in an interview with CNN, adding that the US would continue to supply defense items to Israel, including for the air protection system. “We are not moving away from Israel’s security. We are moving away from Israel’s ability to wage war in these areas”, he added.
The US is an ally of the Jewish country, but tension between the countries increased due to Tel Aviv’s determination to attack Rafah.
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are advancing on the Palestinian city. They have already carried out air strikes, raids in certain parts of the city and taken control of the border with Egypt, one of the main entry points for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
On Monday (May 6), they asked civilians who were in the area east of Rafah to leave the region.
Biden said that Israel’s actions in the city have not yet crossed the red line, which, according to him, would be attacking densely populated areas.
“They didn’t go to population centers. What they did is right on the border. And it’s causing problems, right now, in terms of Egypt, where I’ve worked very hard to make sure that we have a relationship and help [humanitária]”, he stated.
The US president said he had “made clear” to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, that the Israelis will not have the support of the Americans “if they actually attack these population centers”.
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