President Joe Biden has announced that he will halt the supply of congressional authorized offensive weapons to Israel. This decision comes as Israel prepares to launch an offensive campaign in Rafah to target Hamas and its infrastructure, including cells, tunnels, and offensive capabilities. Israel pivots to Rafah comes weeks after Hamas Oct 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and over 250 others taken hostage.
The planned shipment was significant, consisting of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs. However, Biden’s decision reflects a shift in the U.S. approach to the ongoing conflict in the region.
This move by the Biden administration comes as growing condemnation from the progressive base over the funding of Israel’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Student demonstrators have taken to college campuses, demanding a ceasefire, and calling for the defunding and boycotting of Israel. The illegal protests on college campuses have turned ugly, with police forced to respond to the illegal encampments. Pro-Palestinian protestors have interrupted graduation ceremonies across the country and are planning more demonstrations as the graduation season is upon us.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, remains steadfast, stating, “Israel will continue to fight Hamas until its destruction.” Despite not directly addressing the crisis, Katz reiterated Israel’s commitment to dismantling Hamas’s infrastructure, particularly in Rafah, and sealing off the border with Egypt. Israel says Hamas has a subterranean tunnel network designed to facilitate the smuggling of weapons.
While several Israeli officials have responded to Biden’s threat, vowing to continue their operations against Hamas, the U.S. decision marks a significant change in policy and undermines our ally in the Middle East. This moves underscores Biden’s commitment to reevaluating the U.S. approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and signals a departure from previous administrations’ support for Israel. Biden is certainly feeling the heat from his base on the continued conflict.
It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and whether it will lead to a de-escalation of hostilities. Israel has promised to stand alone if they must.