Staff Reports
In recent actions and words, Israel has shown no sign of changing its military plan to match President Joe Biden’s latest warning. This week, Biden threatened to cut off the ammunition Israel requires to proceed with an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the final major Hamas stronghold.
This threat followed the Biden administration’s choice to hold back some bombs from a arms delivery to Israel. However, Israeli tanks moved forward on Friday to confront Hamas militants in one area of Rafah where combat had started earlier in the week.
Responding to a question at a press conference, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has enough munitions for the missions it has planned, after US President Joe Biden threatened that some arms shipments would be frozen if Israel launches a planned offensive in…
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 9, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained firm in his stance, stating, “If we need to…we will stand alone. I have said that if necessary, we will fight with our fingernails.” Netanyahu also referenced Israel’s 1948 War of Independence in which the country fought against several Arab states to survive.
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, responded to Biden’s warning by reaffirming Israel’s resolve, saying that the country “cannot be subdued” and will “stand strong” to achieve its objectives.
The fighting in Rafah is viewed by Israel as part of a limited battle, but there is uncertainty whether Biden shares that viewpoint.
Some experts see Biden’s words as symbolic for now. They believe it sends a message to Netanyahu to consider American interests more than he has in recent months.
In an opinion piece, Michael Makovsky and Blaise Misztal did not hold back in their criticism, accusing Biden of betraying a close ally and prioritizing politics over combating Hamas.
Their piece frames Biden as catering to pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, and anti-American groups for political gain. They argue that Biden’s actions are doubling down on this approach, leading to an arms embargo against Israel.
These events demonstrate an ongoing tension between the United States and Israel over their military strategy, particularly in regard to Gaza and Hamas.
