Biden warns Israel he will stop sending U.S. bombs and artillery rounds if there is a major invasion of Rafah and claims American explosives have been used to kill civilians

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US bombs had been used to kill civilians in Rafah and that he would halt more arms shipments to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launches a full-scale invasion.

‘Civilians have been killed in Rafah as a result of the bombs and other ways they pursue population centers. I’ve made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in yet – I’m not supplying the weapons,” Biden said in an interview with CNN.

The president last week delayed the delivery of 3,500 bombs to the US ally in the Middle East. It was the first time he used his executive power to influence Israel’s approach to its war Hamas.

But his words of warning on Wednesday were the most direct threat Biden has made against Israel during the seven-month war.

He reiterated his support for Israel in his interview with Erin Burnett.

“We will continue to ensure that Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks like the ones that came out at least recently.” But it’s just wrong. “We’re not going to… we’re not going to supply the used weapons and artillery shells,” he said.

He noted that Israel has not yet launched a full-scale invasion – just crossed the border – but expressed frustration that the invasion has cut off a crucial supply line through Egpyt to provide much humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in Gaza.

“They didn’t get into the population centers – what they did happened right at the border and it’s causing – right now – problems with Egypt, which I’ve been working very hard on. Make sure we have a relationship and help, but I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet that they will not get our support if they actually enter these population centers,” he said.

Israel has downplayed the government’s decision to withhold the 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.

The government is also examining whether to block future transfers, including guidance kits that convert so-called dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions, reports show.

Many Democrats have urged the president to limit arms shipments to Israel, fearing they will be used against innocent civilians.

Israel is heavily dependent on the US for its military. Many of the drones used to fend off Iranian missiles last month were American-made, and American forces helped counter the bombings.

Biden’s decision comes as he has struggled to balance his support for Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack with his efforts to protect Palestine’s civilian population.

About a million refugees have visited Rafah. Biden warned Netanyahu on Monday against a full-scale attack on Rafah.

But on Monday, the Israeli army warned about 110,000 civilians to leave Rafah, and tanks entered hours later. It was not a large-scale invasion, but some worry one is imminent.

Israel has threatened a major attack on the area to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are hiding there.

The relationship between Biden and Netanyahu has become more tense as the prime minister has repeatedly defied US demands on key issues.

Republicans rejected the administration’s decision to delay bomb deliveries.

Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell demanded answers about why the shipment of the bombs was delayed, saying they had to learn about it from media reports and not from the government.

“We were alarmed by media reports that your government had delayed the delivery of a variety of weapons shipments bound for Israel. “This news goes against the assurances given regarding the timely delivery of security assistance to Israel,” they wrote in a joint letter to Biden.

Senator Mitt Romney criticized Biden for his policies.

“We stand with allies, we do not doubt them. Biden’s dithering on Israel’s weapons is bad policy and a terrible message for Israel, our allies and the world,” he wrote on X.

Senator Lindsey Graham rebuked the administration.

‘This is obscene. It’s absurd. Give Israel what it needs,” Graham said, noting that it was not for Washington to question Israel’s conduct of a war against Hamas militants bent on Israel’s destruction.

Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Biden to drop “his politically motivated hold.”

“American support for Israel should not be questioned, especially now,” she said.

And Representatives Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a joint statement calling for the bombs to be delivered.

“We are shocked that the government has halted crucial arms shipments to Israel. Withholding weapons from Israel weakens Israel’s deterrent against Iran and its allies such as Hamas and Hezbollah,” they said.

Meanwhile, US officials are concerned that Israel is now in control the Gaza side of a border crossing to Egypt that is an important channel for humanitarian aid.

Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian crisis and famine-like conditions.

The seizure and closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only two major entry points in the south for food, medicine and other supplies, has raised concerns that the crisis could worsen.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration was assured the border crossing had been reopened.

‘We have been told by Israel that it has been opened. It’s important to get those trucks in. It is important to get that aid into Gaza. So that’s what we want to see,” she said Wednesday.

“We know how dire the situation is in Gaza. We want to continue to receive that humanitarian aid, and we want a ceasefire. We want a ceasefire,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu was expected to meet with CIA Director William Burns in Israel on Wednesday afternoon, an Israeli official told the New York Times.

Burns has been in the Middle East to try to finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the hostages released.

Hamas’ attack on October 7 killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250 others, of whom Israel said 133 would remain in captivity in Gaza.

Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas has so far killed a total of 34,789 Palestinians, mostly civilians, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that negotiations were at a “sensitive stage” and that “there should be no reason why they cannot close the remaining gaps.”