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Israel is making plans to invade Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
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More than 1.4 million refugees are living in the town.
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The US has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of consequences if he invades the city.
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Israeli officials are furious over President Joe Biden’s most recent threat.
(NewsReady.com) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that he intends to invade Rafah. The town, which borders Egypt, is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid and is where approximately 1.4 million refugees have fled to escape the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombing campaign to take out Hamas. President Joe Biden recently threatened to stop sending military support to Israel if it went ahead with plans to attack the city, and that has infuriated Israeli leaders.
Biden’s Threat
On May 8, Biden appeared on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” to discuss Israel. He talked about his recent decision to pause a shipment of bombs to Israel, saying those bombs have killed civilians in Gaza and mentioning the IDF targets “population centers.”
The president said that he “made it clear” that if Israel goes into Rafah, then the US is “not supplying the weapons” to carry out the attacks. His announcement was shocking because it was the first time he’d conditioned aid to Israel, something he has taken a lot of heat for on the Left. He has been a strong supporter of the Israeli government throughout his 50 years in government. The last time a president threatened to cut off aid was former President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
In the days since Biden’s remarks, the US has continued to send military assistance to Israel. The shipments have included offensive and defensive weaponry.
Netanyahu Responds
The prime minister responded to Biden the following day. He pointed out that it was the night before the country celebrated its Independence Day, which took place 76 years ago. Netanyahu explained that when the Jewish state gained its independence, there were “few against many,” and Israel didn’t have weapons because of an arms embargo. Still, he said the people had “fortitude, bravery, and unity,” which drove them to success.
“If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone,” Netanyahu said. He reiterated that they would “fight with [their] nails” if necessary.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed that Biden placed an “arms embargo” on Israel, which was debunked in the days following his remarks when the US continued sending aid. Smotrich said Israel had “no choice” but to keep fighting because the “war is an existential one,” and losing it would put the country in danger.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed, “Hamas [loves] Biden,” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Hamas ❤️Biden
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 9, 2024
Israeli President Isaac Herzog tried to temper the outrage in his country. He thanked Biden for being “a great friend” to the country and admonished the far-right politicians in Israel. He told them that they could disagree without “baseless, irresponsible, and insulting statements […] that harm the national security” and Israel’s interests.
Copyright 2024, NewsReady.com
