This is the first time that, at the age of 81, the Democrat has publicly set conditions on American military support for Israel, in this case President Joe Biden

The United States is seeking to put pressure on Israel. On Wednesday, Biden warned that he would refuse to deliver certain weapons to Israel, in particular artillery shells, if a major offensive was launched against Rafah. This was an unprecedented warning from Washington.

‘If an operation is launched in Rafah, I will refuse to supply them with the weapons that have traditionally been used against urban areas,’ he said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday 8 May.

‘We will not supply the weapons and artillery shells that have been used so far’, he added. Biden also mentioned that he had clearly communicated this position to Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and the Israeli War Cabinet.