Israel reacts to Biden's most direct warning against full blown Rafah invasion

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday (May 8) that he would stop US weapons supplies to Israel if it attacks Rafah in southern Gaza, in his most direct warning so far amid the war against Hamas that has led to massive humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Biden's fresh warning came after the United States recently halted a shipment of American bombs to Israel amid the looming prospect of a full-fledged Israeli invasion of Rafah where about two million Palestinians are currently living under tents after being displaced due to war elsewhere in Gaza.

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"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. "We're not gonna supply the weapons and the artillery shells that have been used."

Also watch |US pauses bomb shipment to Israel over Rafah concerns

Hours after Biden's comment, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations said that US president's threat to stop certain arms supplies to Israel "very disappointing".

"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," Gilad Erdan told Israeli public broadcaster Kan radio, in Israel's first reaction to Biden's warning

Sources cited by the US media say that Biden was forced to speak as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear he would go ahead with an assault on Rafah.

The Biden administration recently paused deliveryof 1,800 2,000-pound (907 kilogrammes) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.

"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs," Biden said. "It's just wrong."

Biden, however, pointed out that the US is not shifting too far from Israel.

"We are not walking away from Israel's security," Biden insisted in the CNN interview. "We're walking away from Israel's ability to wage war in those areas."

What next?

Israel has already launched a limited invasion of Rafah after taking over a key crossing point and overnight bombardments over purported Hamas targets. Even if the pause in US shipments happens, Israel would still be left witha significant weapons stockpile.

At least 34,789 Palestinians have so far been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip since October last year, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)