'Whole thing was a PR stunt': Internet slams Biden as White House clarifies US continues to provide weapons to Israel to 'defend themselves'

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House clarified President Joe Biden's stance about pausing US weapons to Israel, stating the shipments the Jewish nation needed to "defend themselves" would continue, reported Daily Mail.

"Everybody keeps talking about pausing weapons shipments," said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby while addressing reporters on Thursday, May 9.

"Weapons shipments are still going to Israel. And they're still getting the vast, vast majority of everything that they need to defend themselves," he asserted.

Biden, in an interview with CNN on May 8, warned he would stop more weapons shipments to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved forward with his plan to launch an invasion on Rafah.

Netanyahu responded with defiance to the president's threat through a social media video message stating that "no amount of pressure" would "stop Israel from defending itself."

John Kirby clears up Biden's stance

Last week, Biden, for the first time, delayed the shipments of 3500 bombs to Israel using his executive power. This was the first move from the US aiming to influence its Middle East ally's approach to its war on Gaza that broke out in October 2023.

The president, who is under immense pressure to change his stance to stop Israel's continued bloodshed in Gaza, admitted the US provided weapons that caused fatalities to civilians in Rafah in the CNN interview.

"Civilians have been killed in Rafah as a result of those bombs and other ways they go after population centers. I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven't gone into Raffa yet - I'm not supplying the weapons," Biden reiterated his threat.

However, Kirby attempted to clear out the president's decision, pointing out that Israel has not launched an offensive on Rafah. "So he was talking about what would happen in the future if they did. That's a choice that Israel will have to make. And it's one we hope they don't," he continued.

The Biden administration's decision to pause arms shipment was aimed at stopping its ally from a full-scale attack on the region, which contains more than a million Palestinian refugees.

Kirby added that Biden would "continue to provide Israel with the capabilities that it needs, all of them. But he does not want certain categories of American weapons used in a particular type of operation in a particular place."

He also emphasized the administration was "doing everything" possible to help its Jewish ally but also reminded Israel about the consequences if they decided to move into Rafah.

Israel argued that thousands of Hamas fighters were holed up in the region. Though the full-scale invasion is yet to begin, the military ordered around 110,000 civilians to leave Rafah on May 6.

Internet slams Biden

Netizens slammed Biden after the White House contradicted his statements about weapon supply to Israel.

One user wrote, "Surprise surprise the whole thing was a PR stunt." Another remarked, "The pause is a publicity scam. Try and fool the masses for the US election."

"Whatever potus says is a lie and a distraction," a third user fumed. A fourth response read, "Biden deserves the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor."

Another added, "These people are absolutely disgusting."

Someone lese asked, "Lol knew they would walk it back. Who do they think they’re fooling at this point?" An individual said, "It is just posture. Pure politik. Confuse the public for approval, and still move forward with supporting death."

"So Biden is lying to the American people- he’s not pausing weapon shipments to Israel. He’s just talking and hoping no one will be paying attention to what his people are saying at other events," said another outraged user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.