Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his country is ready to "stand alone" in its fight against Hamas terrorists, responding to President Joe Biden’s announcement that the United States will cut off ammunition supplies to Jerusalem if the Israel Defense Forces launch a large-scale invasion of Rafah, the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza.
Netanyahu made the remarks in a video posted on X.
Noting that Yom Ha’atzmaut, a holiday commemorating the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence, takes place early next week, Netanyahu reminded viewers that Israel won its independence without international support.
“We are on the eve of Independence Day,” Netanyahu said in the Hebrew-language address. “In the War of Independence 76 years ago, we were few against the many. We had no weapons — there was an arms embargo on Israel — but with great strength of spirit, heroism, and unity among us, we were victorious.”
He then turned his attention to Biden’s declaration that the U.S. will cease providing Israel with some weapons should it attempt to invade Rafah to eradicate the leaders of Hamas.
“Today, we are much stronger, we are determined, and we are united to defeat our enemy and those who want to destroy us,” Netanyahu continued. “If we need to stand alone, we will stand alone. I have said that, if necessary, we will fight with our nails. But we have much more than nails, and with that same strength of spirit — with God’s help — together, we will win.”
Biden’s announcement, made in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, came after the administration confirmed Tuesday that it had paused the shipment of thousands of bombs meant for Israel over concerns about an invasion of Rafah. It was the first time the U.S. has publicly held up military aid to the Jewish state since the October 7 Hamas attack.
At that time, an American official described the decision as a “shot across the bow” intended to signal the Biden administration’s unease with a Rafah operation.
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