Biden Threatens to Suspend Arms Shipments if Israel Enters Rafah
Why was the warning made
President Biden has threatened to suspend arms shipments to Israel if it enters the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. The threat was made in a phone call between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday, according to a senior U.S. official.
The official said that Biden told Bennett that the United States was deeply concerned about the possibility of Israeli forces entering Rafah, and that such a move could lead to a significant escalation of violence.
The official said that Biden also told Bennett that the United States was committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that the entry of Israeli forces into Rafah would make it more difficult to achieve that goal.
Israel’s response to the warning
Bennett has not publicly commented on the threat, but Israeli officials have said that they will not hesitate to enter Rafah if they believe it is necessary.
A spokesperson for the Israeli government said that the Israeli military was prepared to take all necessary measures to protect Israeli citizens and security forces.
The spokesperson said that the Israeli government was committed to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict with the Palestinians, but that it would not hesitate to use force if necessary.
The background of the situation
The threat comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. In recent weeks, there have been a number of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
The violence has raised concerns that the two sides could be on the brink of another war.
The United States has been working to de-escalate the situation, and Biden’s threat to suspend arms shipments is intended to send a strong message to Israel that it must not enter Rafah.
What could happen next
It is not clear what will happen next. Israel has not said whether it will heed Biden’s warning, and the United States has not said whether it will actually suspend arms shipments if Israel enters Rafah.
The situation is fluid, and it is possible that the violence could escalate further. The United States is urging both sides to exercise restraint and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
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