President Joe Biden said in part of an interview with CNN scheduled to air on Wednesday’s “Outfront” on “The Situation Room” that if Israel were to enter the populated area of Rafah, , said, “I am not.” We’re going to supply them with weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, deal with cities, and deal with their problems. ” And while Israel will continue to obtain supplies to Iron Dome and give it “the ability to respond to an attack,” he added, “I have made it clear to Bibi and the Army Cabinet that if that is indeed the case, they will not be able to support us.” You won’t get it,” he said. They go to these populated areas. ”
Host Erin Burnett said, “I want to ask you about something that’s going on as we sit here and talk, and that is, of course, that Israel is attacking Rafah.” Mr. President, I know that you suspended the shipment of 2,000 pounds of U.S. military bombs to Israel because of concerns that they could be used in the attack on Rafah. Has a 2,000-pound bomb ever been used to kill civilians in Gaza?”
“Civilians are being killed in Gaza as a result of bombs and other attacks on populated areas. And I think if they go to Rafah, they haven’t gone to Rafah yet, if they go to Rafah I’ve made it clear that if we go to Rafah, we’re not going to provide them with the weapons that have been used historically to deal with them. We’re going to work with the city to address that issue. , we’re going to continue to ensure Israel’s security in terms of Iron Dome and its ability to respond to attacks like the ones that have recently come out of the Middle East. But that’s just not true. We are not going to supply them with weapons or shells.”
Barnett then interjected and asked, “Cannonballs too?”
Biden responded, “Yes, shells.”
Burnett then asked, “So to understand what they’re doing with Rapha now, that doesn’t fall under Rapha in your definition?”
Mr. Biden responded: They don’t go to populated areas. What they did was right on the border, which is currently causing problems as far as Egypt is concerned. I have worked very hard to build relations with Egypt. [with] And please help. But I made it clear to Bibi and the War Cabinet that if they actually entered these populated areas, they would not have our support. ”
The expansion to include artillery shells goes beyond a moratorium on bomb shipments confirmed by the Pentagon earlier in the day and comes on the heels of the president signing legislation expanding aid to Israel.
to follow Ian Hanchett’s Twitter @Ian Hanchett
