Former President Trump criticized President Biden Thursday morning for threatening to refrain from providing certain aggressive weapons to Israel if Israeli forces enter Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
“Crooked Joe Biden, whether he realizes it or not, just stated that he will hold back weapons from Israel as they battle to eliminate Hamas Terrorists in Gaza,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Hamas killed many innocent civilians, including babies, and are still holding Americans hostages, if the hostages are still alive.”
The former president also accused Biden of “taking the side of these terrorists,” and claimed once again that the war between Israel and Hamas would not have started if he were in office.
Biden cautioned Wednesday that he would cease providing Israel with aggressive weapons like bombs and artillery shells if Israeli forces launch an invasion of Rafah, setting a clear boundary amid outcry over the conflict in Gaza.
“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities — that deal with that problem,” the president said.
Trump himself has been critical of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Hamas attacks last October that killed more than 1,000 Israelis and over his handling of the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
Biden said Wednesday that his administration would ensure Israel is able to respond to attacks, but artillery shells and other aggressive munitions would be reconsidered.
The White House has urged Israel against sending forces into Rafah without a clear plan to evacuate civilians safely, as the war has already left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead. About a million refugees have settled in Rafah after fleeing fighting in northern Gaza.
But Netanyahu has been unwavering about plans to eliminate Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip and orchestrated the Oct. 7 attacks that killed more than 1,100 Israelis. And he says that requires going after Hamas leaders hiding out in Rafah.
The U.S. reportedly delayed a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns of an impending full-scale invasion of Rafah. But his comments Wednesday mark the first time the president has explicitly threatened to cut off the shipment of aggressive weapons to the U.S. ally.
