Biden issues warning to Israel that a large scale invasion of Rafah is not the solution, and possible cut-off of arms supply

President Joe Biden has given a warning to Israel which is the strongest warning yet about the possibility of a large-scale ground invasion into Rafah, the Gaza city. Biden said that the US will not provide some vehicles to Israel if it attacks Rafah.

"If they go to Rafah, I will not give them the weapons that have been used by Rafah historically," the president said. But at the same time, he added that the U.S. will also "go on ensuring Israel is a safe country".

Biden's statement comes at a time when Israel seems to be about to deliver a massive ground attack on Rafah, which is the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza. However, the U.  S.  officials have warned that the operation into the crowded city that is now overpopulated with refugees could result in unavoidable civilian casualties.

The president stated that the U.  S.  is not yet calling what is going on at the Rafah border a ground operation into built-up areas. "What they did is 100% on the borderline," he added. But he cautioned, "You don't get our backing if, in fact, you are going to these population centers".

Biden also admitted that the US weapons have been used before by Israel to kill civilians in Gaza, however, he said Israel has not crossed the red line yet.

This is the time when Biden has clearly warned the United States to stop the deliveries of arms to Israel for the first time. Therefore, the U. S.  already has put off sending a shipment of 4,000 bombs in the middle of the military clash.

The Israeli officials were quoted expressing their disappointment with the delayed delivery of the gear, while a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party suggested that internal political pressures in the US might have been the reason behind the decision.

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As the diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting continue, Rafah remains one of the volatile places with Israel this week taking over the Palestinian side of the Rafah-Egypt crossing. The United Nations is now saying there is a growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.