In a notable development, the US government on Thursday retracted its statement on supporting Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip, after previously saying it was providing Israel with information to target Hamas leaders.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said earlier in the day that the United States had provided Israel with targeting information involving Yahya Sinwar, a former Israeli prisoner who now heads the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Gaza. But he later denied this, saying that he did not discuss the details of cooperation with Israel in combating terrorism.
Kirby's withdrawal came a day after President Biden warned Israel that he would not supply it with weapons if Israel invaded the city of Rafah. Rafah is a city located in the south of the Gaza Strip, where many displaced people have taken refuge. Biden said in an interview with CNN that he made it clear to Israel that he would not provide Israel with the weapons that were historically used to deal with Rafah.
Kirby said that the United States offered Israel alternatives to a ground invasion of Rafah. He said the United States hopes Israel will carry out a limited operation at the border crossing with Egypt, which Israel seized on Tuesday. He also said that the United States wants Israel to open the other border crossing, Kerem Shalom, which connects Israel to southern Gaza, to humanitarian aid.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, had a disappointing reaction to the US arms decision. Erdan said in an interview with the Kan public broadcaster that it was “difficult and very disappointing” for Israel.
Israeli lawmaker Tali Gottliff, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party, went further and issued an ultimatum to the United States. “Maybe instead of using an accurate missile to take down a specific building, I'll use my imprecise missiles, and just take out ten buildings. That's what I'll do.”
Genocide
Israel, backed by the United States, has been waging a bloody attack on Gaza since October. Nearly 35,000 Palestinians were killed and 80,000 others were injured, most of them children and women. Nearly nine out of ten residents are displaced and suffer from lack of food, water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. In a preliminary ruling issued in January, this international court ordered Tel Aviv to stop acts of genocide and stop obstructing international humanitarian aid to civilians suffering in Gaza.
In a new ruling issued at the end of March, the International Court of Justice once again ordered Israel to allow emergency aid facilities for Gaza residents.
