Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concerns that President Biden's vow to withhold weapons if Israel invades Hamas' stronghold in Rafah could lead to increased civilian casualties. The Jewish State, he argues, would be forced to use less precise weaponry in the absence of advanced precision weapons, putting civilians at greater risk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised alarm that President Biden's threat to withhold weapons if Israel proceeds with an invasion of Rafah, Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza, could result in increased civilian casualties.
In an interview with Dr. Phil, Netanyahu asserted that the use of precision weapons is crucial for minimizing civilian casualties, particularly in densely populated areas where Hamas terrorists often embed themselves within civilian centers.
"We are doing everything we can to let the people leave, with amazing efforts," Netanyahu said. "But, I think also that this is precision — precision weapons. So, in fact, if you want to avoid civilian casualties, you need these weapons, rather than imprecise weaponry."
Biden's vow to withhold weapons is based on concerns about the potential for significant civilian casualties in Rafah, which is heavily populated. However, Netanyahu argues that the use of imprecise weaponry, in the absence of precision-guided munitions, would ultimately lead to more civilian casualties.
"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," Biden said in an interview with CNN.
The withheld shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, a senior U.S. administration official told the Associated Press.
Netanyahu, who has vowed to follow through with the eradication of Hamas, has expressed concern that Biden's threat could weaken Israel's ability to protect its citizens.
"I’ve known Joe Biden for many years, 40 years and more. You know, we often had our agreements but we’ve had our disagreements. We’ve been able to overcome them, I hope we can overcome them now," Netanyahu said.
"But we will do what we have to do to protect our country … to protect our future," Netanyahu continued. "And that means we will defeat Hamas, including in Rafah. We have no other choice."
Netanyahu's concerns are shared by many observers, including Human Rights Watch, which has called on Israel to avoid using imprecise weapons in densely populated areas.
The organization has documented numerous incidents of civilian casualties caused by imprecise Israeli airstrikes, including the deaths of dozens of children.
The United Nations has also expressed concern about the potential for increased civilian casualties if Israel invades Rafah.
"We are deeply concerned about the potential for a further escalation of violence and the impact this would have on the civilian population," said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has already claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is growing increasingly desperate.
The United States, as a close ally of both Israel and the Palestinians, has a critical role to play in brokering a ceasefire and preventing further bloodshed.
However, Biden's threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it invades Rafah could make it more difficult to achieve a peaceful resolution.
