Several lawmakers criticized President Joe Biden for threatening to withhold weapons and artillery if Israel invades Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold.
Monaka interview and CNN Reporter Erin Burnett said Mr Biden had “made it clear” that if Israel moved to invade Rafah, the US would not supply them with “weapons”.
“I made it clear that if they go to Rafah, they haven’t gone to Rafah yet. We’re not supplying weapons that have been used to address that problem,” Biden said.
Biden said in the interview that bombs and artillery supplied to Israel “resulted in the killing of civilians in Gaza.”
President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine that also includes aid to Israel, Taiwan and other allies in Washington on April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Biden said the United States will ensure Israel is “secure in terms of Iron Dome and its ability to respond to an attack.”
In response to Biden’s comments, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) released statements disagreeing with Biden’s comments. did.
“This is completely unacceptable. I’m old enough to remember when Democrats impeached another president for withholding foreign aid approved by Congress,” Pence said. I have written In a post to X: “Joe, stop the threats. America stands with Israel!”
This is completely unacceptable. I’m old enough to remember when Democrats impeached another president for allegedly withholding foreign aid approved by Congress. Please stop threatening 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 since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages, also responded that he disagreed with Biden.
“I completely disagree and am very disappointed,” Fetterman said. I have written.
I completely disagree and am very disappointed. pic.twitter.com/96aTeEvgPt
— Sen. John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) May 8, 2024
Mitt Romney blasted Biden’s comments as a “terrible message to Israel and America’s allies and the rest of the world.”
Romney: “We support our allies and we don’t think about them.” I have written. “Biden’s hesitation about Israeli weapons is bad policy and sends a terrible message to Israel, our allies, and the world.”
We support our allies and we don’t think twice about them. Biden’s hesitation about Israeli weapons is bad policy and a terrible message to Israel, its allies, and the world.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 8, 2024
Other politicians, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), also said: support “This transition to include Israel in American standards will make the world safer and make our values clearer,” Biden said.
Ocasio-Cortez said, “President Biden’s enforcement of conditions on U.S. military aid and holding the Israeli government to the same standards that we hold all of our allies is responsible, safe, and fair.” This is a great move,” he wrote. “@POTUS’ historic shift to include Israel in America’s standards makes the world safer and our values clearer.”
It is the responsible, safe, and just action for President Biden to enforce conditions on U.S. military aid and hold the Israeli government to the same standards that we hold all our allies to.@POTUSThe historic shift to include Israel in America’s standards has made the world safer and clarified our values. https://t.co/O2hOPiqIcs
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 9, 2024
“This is what young people across the country have been protesting, and the needle has finally moved in a major direction,” Omar wrote. post “I hope we see more progress, but never let people tell you that your voice doesn’t matter and your actions don’t have value. The arc of what’s possible is always within our reach.” inside and can bend it.”
This is something that young people across the country have been protesting for, and the needle has finally moved in a big way. I hope we see more progress, but never let people tell you that your voice doesn’t matter and your actions don’t have value. The arc of possibility is… https://t.co/1zXh3E96Sy
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 9, 2024
Biden’s comments came after Hamas fired rockets from Rafah at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, which is used as an entry point for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The attack killed four soldiers and injured 10 others.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday called on residents of Rafah to evacuate for safety, distributing leaflets, using text messages and other communication methods to warn residents to leave. Israeli spokesman David Mensah warned that this was not a bluff, adding that it was “not possible” to leave Hamas in power.
“The purpose of the operation in Rafah is to carry out exactly what the Israel Defense Forces said they would do,” Mensah explained. “We have the last four battalions of Hamas in Rafah. We cannot leave them in power and it has been clearly stated that they will simply take back Gaza. As a result, they will attack us again, because that is exactly what they said.
On Tuesday, Israel sent tanks into Rafah and took control of the border crossing it shares with Egypt.
