Several lawmakers criticized President Joe Biden for threatening to withhold weapons and artillery if Israel invades Rafah, Hamas’s final stronghold.
During an interview with CNN reporter Erin Burnett, Biden mentioned he had “made it clear” that if Israel strikes to invade Rafah, the United States wouldn’t provide them with “the weapons.”
“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah, they haven’t gone into Rafah yet, if they go into Rafah — I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, to deal with that problem,” Biden mentioned.
Biden mentioned through the interview that “civilians have been killed in Gaza as the consequence” of bombs and artillery equipped to Israel.
President Joe Biden speaks earlier than signing a $95 billion Ukraine assist package deal that additionally contains support for Israel, Taiwan, and different allies on April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The United States, Biden mentioned, would be sure that Israel was “secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks.”
In response to Biden’s assertion, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) issued statements disagreeing with Biden’s feedback.
“This is totally unacceptable. I’m old enough to remember when Democrats impeached another President for supposedly withholding foreign aid that had been approved by Congress,” Pence wrote in a publish on X. “Stop the threats Joe. America Stands with Israel!”
This is completely unacceptable. I’m sufficiently old to keep in mind when Democrats impeached one other President for supposedly withholding international assist that had been authorised by Congress. Stop the threats Joe. America Stands with Israel!🇺🇸🇱 https://t.co/sqU1G2ngDY
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) May 8, 2024
Fetterman, who has been an outspoken supporter of Israel within the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault, which left 1,200 individuals useless and greater than 200 individuals taken as hostages, additionally responded by disagreeing with Biden.
“Hard disagree and deeply disappointing,” Fetterman wrote.
Hard disagree and deeply disappointing. pic.twitter.com/96aTeEvgPt
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) May 8, 2024
Mitt Romney labeled Biden’s feedback as being a “terrible message to Israel” and the allies of the U.S. in addition to the remainder of the world.
“We stand by allies, we don’t second guess them,” Romney wrote. “Biden’s dithering on Israel weapons is bad policy and a terrible message to Israel, our allies, and the world.”
We stand by allies, we don’t second guess them. Biden’s dithering on Israel weapons is dangerous coverage and a horrible message to Israel, our allies, and the world.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 8, 2024
Other politicians equivalent to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) expressed support for Biden’s remark, stating that this “shift to include Israel in US standards makes the world safe and our values clear.”
“President Biden enforcing conditions on US military aid and holding the Israeli gov to the same bar we hold all our allies to is the responsible, secure, and just thing to do,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “@POTUS’s historic shift to include Israel in US standards makes the world safer and our values clear.”
President Biden imposing situations on US army assist and holding the Israeli gov to the identical bar we maintain all our allies to is the accountable, safe, and simply factor to do.@POTUS’s historic shift to embody Israel in US requirements makes the world safer and our values clear. https://t.co/O2hOPiqIcs
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 9, 2024
“This is what young people across the country were protesting for and finally the needle has moved in a significant way,” Omar wrote in a post on X. “I hope we see more progress, but don’t ever let people tell you that your voices are meaningless and your actions are worthless. The arc of what is possible is always within us to bend.”
This is what younger individuals throughout the nation had been protesting for and at last the needle has moved in a major approach. I hope we see extra progress, however don’t ever let individuals let you know that your voices are meaningless and your actions are nugatory. The arc of what’s doable is… https://t.co/1zXh3E96Sy
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 9, 2024
Biden’s feedback come after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Rafah towards the Kerem Shalom border crossing, which is used because the entry level for humanitarian assist getting into the Gaza Strip.
The assault left 4 troopers useless and ten others wounded.
On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged residents in Rafah to search security and evacuate, dropping leaflets and utilizing textual content messages and different types of communication to warn residents to depart. David Mencer, Israel’s spokesman warned that this was not a bluff, including that they “cannot” depart Hamas in energy.
“The purpose of the operation in Rafah is to do exactly what the IDF has stated,” Mencer defined. “Rafah contains the last four battalions of Hamas. We cannot leave them in power: it’s been stated quite clearly that if we do that they will simply retake Gaza. And consequently, they will attack us again, because that’s precisely what they have said.”
On Tuesday, Israel sent tanks into Rafah and seized management of the border crossing it shares with Egypt.
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