Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally

By ZEKE MILLER and AAMER MADHANI
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he won’t supply offensive weapons Israel can use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there. Biden acknowledges “civilians have been killed in Gaza” by the type of heavy bombs the U.S. has been supplying. Biden said in an interview Wednesday with CNN the U.S. is still committed to Israel’s defense and will supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms. But the Democratic president says if Israel goes into Rafah, the U.S. is “not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”