White House cleans-up Biden's quotes and says Americans weapons are still being sent to Israel... but issues another warning about invading Rafah
'Weapons shipments are still going to Israel,' spokesman John Kirby said
READ MORE: Biden warns Israel he will stop sending U.S. bombs
By Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter In Washington D.C.
Published: 13:25 EDT, 9 May 2024 | Updated: 13:44 EDT, 9 May 2024
The White House cleaned up President Joe Biden's threat to stop sending weapons to Israel, saying the shipments are continuing.
'Everybody keeps talking about pausing weapons shipments. Weapons shipments are still going to Israel. And they're still getting the vast, vast majority of everything that they need to defend themselves,' National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.
Biden told CNN on Wednesday that he would pause more arms shipments to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launches a full-scale invasion of Rafah.
Israelis reacted with fury and ceasefire negotiations have stalled. Netanyahu didn't respond directly to Biden's comment, but he posted a video on social media of a defiant speech he delivered this week in which he said 'no amount of pressure' will 'stop Israel from defending itself.'
The president, last week, delayed the delivery of 3,500 bombs to the U.S.'s Middle East ally. It was the first time he used his executive power to influence Israel's approach to its war with Hamas.
But his words of warning on Wednesday was the most direct threat Biden has made to Israel during the seven-month war.
'Civilians have been killed in Rafah as a result of those bombs and other ways they go after population centers. I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven't gone into Raffa yet - I'm not supplying the weapons,' Biden said.
Kirby, however, appeared to be clarifying the president's stance.
'As the President said, Israel has not yet launched such an operation. So he was talking about what would happen in the future, if they did. That's a choice that Israel will have to make. And it's one we hope they don't,' he noted.
The Biden administration has been trying to stop Israel from launching a full-scale attack in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian refugees have gathered.
But Kriby said Biden is 'going to continue to provide Israel with the capabilities that it needs, all of them. But he does not want certain categories of American weapons used in a particular type of operation in a particular place.'
He noted the administration is 'doing everything we can to help Israel.'
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13401091/white-house-joe-biden-american-weapons-israel-rafah-invasion.html
