President Biden's unexpected threat to withhold munitions shipments to Israel has sent shockwaves through Congress, with Republican leaders expressing disbelief and questioning the rationale behind such a drastic move.
President Biden's abrupt announcement that he will pause weapons shipments to Israel has sparked a cascade of reactions, particularly among Republican lawmakers who have voiced their strong disapproval. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has vehemently criticized the decision, describing it as "a complete turn" from what he had been informed just hours before.
According to Johnson, top administration officials had previously assured him that the policy regarding weapons shipments to Israel was vastly different from the one Biden publicly stated. He has expressed hope that Biden's comments were simply a "senior moment" and not a deliberate departure from the administration's established plans.
Johnson had previously expressed concern over the potential delays in U.S. support to Israel, but he was reassured by administration officials that any delays pertained to earlier tranches of weapons, not the aid recently approved by the House. Therefore, Biden's unexpected announcement has left Johnson baffled and skeptical.
In an interview with Politico, Johnson stated, "I believe he's off script. I don't think that's something that staff told him to say. I hope it's a senior moment, because that would be a great deviation in what is said to be the policy there."
Biden's decision stems from his concerns over the civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from the planned invasion of Rafah. In an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett, Biden expresó, "Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers. 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 Biden administration's hesitation to provide further weapons to Israel has drawn criticism from some quarters, who argue that it could weaken Israel's defense capabilities and embolden its adversaries. However, the administration maintains that the decision was made in light of the need to prevent further civilian casualties and promote a ceasefire.
The potential consequences of Biden's move are still unfolding, with some experts predicting that it could strain relations between the United States and Israel. The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear how long the suspension of weapons shipments will last or what conditions Israel must meet to resume receiving them.
