Violence escalates in Rafah as Biden considers halting arms sales to Israel
Israel launched a shelling attack on Rafah on Thursday, coinciding with US President Joe Biden’s stern warning regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. President Biden threatened to halt arms transfers if an offensive on the southern Gaza city proceeds. The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 34,904 Palestinians have died and 78,514 have been injured since the military offensive began on October 7. Israel’s ambassador to the UN expressed disappointment over Biden’s threat to halt certain arms supplies in the event of an invasion of Rafah.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for two missile attacks on Panama-flagged container ships in the Gulf of Aden, which fortunately caused no damage. They also revealed a previously unreported assault on a ship in the Indian Ocean. Addressing concerns about potential armament shortages if the US were to cut off supplies, Israel’s former head of defense production and procurement dismissed the idea, indicating that Israel would be compelled to seek arms from other sources.
Israel defied international objections by deploying tanks and carrying out “targeted raids” in a border city with an estimated 1.4 million displaced Palestinian civilians. “This is a hard and disappointing statement to hear from a president we have appreciated since the war’s outset,” said Gilad Erdan in response to Biden’s warning on Israeli public broadcaster Kan radio. The assertions made by Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree coincide with a decrease in rebel attacks in recent weeks, possibly due to ongoing airstrikes by a US-led coalition warship in strategic waterways vital for global trade.
Israel expressed disappointment with the threat on Thursday, despite defying international objections by sending in tanks and conducting “targeted raids” in the border city, where displaced Palestinian civilians are crowded. In a prerecorded statement, Saree claimed responsibility for attacks on the MSC Diego and MSC Gina. The Joint Maritime Information Center, led by a coalition of nations including the US, reported that these missile attacks took place early Tuesday.
Biden told CNN that, “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used… to deal with the cities.” He added: “We’re not gonna supply the weapons and the artillery shells that have been used.”
Israel early Tuesday seized Rafah’s border crossing into Egypt, which has served as the main entry point for aid into besieged Gaza.
On Thursday, Israel launched shelling on Rafah amidst a sharp warning from US President Joe Biden regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. President Biden vowed to halt arms transfers if Israel proceeds with an offensive into the southern Gaza city. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the military offensive in Gaza has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 34,904 lives and 78,514 injuries since October 7. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations expressed disappointment over President Biden’s threat to cut off certain arms supplies should an invasion of Rafah occur. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for missile attacks on two Panama-flagged container ships in the Gulf of Aden without causing damage. They also revealed a previously unreported assault on a ship in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, Israel’s former head of defense production and procurement dismissed claims that the country could do without American arms, mentioning that Israel would need to seek arms from alternate sources if cut off, as reported by Israeli public radio.
Israel has sparked international controversy by deploying tanks and conducting “targeted raids” in a border city housing an estimated 1.4 million displaced Palestinian civilians. Gilad Erdan, speaking to Israeli public broadcaster Kan radio, expressed disappointment in President Biden’s stance, stating, “This is a difficult and very disappointing statement to hear from a president to whom we have been grateful since the beginning of the war.” Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree’s allegations arise amidst a decrease in rebel attacks following repeated airstrikes by a US-led coalition warship in vital trade waterways.
Israel expressed deep disappointment at the threat. Despite international opposition, Israel has deployed tanks and conducted “targeted raids” in the border city, even though it is filled with displaced Palestinian civilians. In a prerecorded statement, Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks on the MSC Diego and MSC Gina. According to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a US-led coalition in the Middle East, these missile attacks took place early Tuesday.
“If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used… to deal with the cities,” Biden said in an interview with CNN, in his starkest warning to Israel since the start of the war.
“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs,” Biden said. “It’s just wrong.”
Erdan responded that Biden’s comments would be interpreted by Israel’s foes Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah as “something that gives them hope to succeed”.
Israel conducted shelling in Rafah on Thursday while US President Joe Biden issued a strong warning regarding the situation in Gaza, promising to halt arms transfers should an offensive on the southern Gaza city proceed. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the toll from Israel’s military offensive since October 7 has reached at least 34,904 Palestinians killed and 78,514 injured. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations expressed disappointment at Biden’s threat to cut off specific arms supplies if an invasion of Rafah occurs. Additionally, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for two missile attacks on Panama-flagged container ships in the Gulf of Aden, with another unreported assault in the Indian Ocean. Israel’s former head of defense production and procurement dismissed the idea that Israel could manage without American arms, citing the necessity of sourcing arms from elsewhere.
Israel recently took action despite international objections, deploying tanks and carrying out “targeted raids” in a border city with an estimated 1.4 million displaced Palestinian civilians. In response to U.S. President Biden’s warning, Gilad Erdan expressed disappointment, stating, “This is a difficult and very disappointing statement to hear from a president to whom we have been grateful since the beginning of the war.” Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree’s assertions come amid a decrease in rebel attacks due to ongoing airstrikes by a US-led coalition warship targeting vital waterways for international trade.
Israel expressed deep disappointment at the threat. Despite international objections, they have proceeded with sending in tanks and carrying out “targeted raids” in the border city, even though it is filled with displaced Palestinian civilians. In a prerecorded statement, Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks on the MSC Diego and MSC Gina. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a coalition of nations led by the US operating in the Middle East, confirmed that these missile attacks took place early Tuesday.
“Neither were hit and all crew on board are safe,” the center said. “The vessels were last reported proceeding to next port of call.”
The center added that the vessels were “likely targeted due to perceived Israeli affiliation.”
Both vessels were operating for Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Saree did not say why it took the rebels two day to claim the attacks. He also claimed the Houthis targeted the MSC Vittoria, another container ship, in the Indian Ocean. An attack on that vessel, however, has not been acknowledged by any authorities.
