After President Biden threatened to withhold offensive weapons from Israel unless they called off their attack on Rafah, Hamas wasted no time in seizing the opportunity.
“Hamas launched rockets from Rafah at the southern Israeli city of Beersheva on Friday for the first time since December, as Iranian proxy Hezbollah sent a barrage of rockets into the northern Israel city of Kiryat Shmona, causing a massive fire,” Fox News Digital reports. “Within the Gaza Strip on Friday, four Israeli soldiers were killed.”
(Video: YouTube)
For 24 years, Jonathan Conricus served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
He says Biden’s ultimatum “emboldens” Israel’s “enemies.”
“When administration officials attacked or berated Israel publicly previously during the war, Hamas hardened its demands in return for releasing hostages, in fact delaying and minimizing the chances of success of the delicate negotiation,” Conricus told Fox News Digital. “When Israel’s enemies detect tension between the U.S. and its most loyal and steadfast ally in the region, Israel, it emboldens them to attack Israel more and continue with their tactics of using human shields, since they understand that the U.S. will eventually punish Israel for defending itself, regardless of Hamas and Hezbollah’s actions.”
Hamas continues to fire rockets from Rafah toward Kerem Shalom
Today, four launches were identified crossing from Rafah toward the area of Kerem Shalom. Thanks to the IDF Aerial Defense Array, the rockets were successfully intercepted and no injuries were reported.
Hamas…
— LTC (S.) Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) May 11, 2024
“In the short term, these American statements will lead to enhanced violence and fighting, since they embolden Israel’s enemies,” Conricus, who served as an IDF spokesman during the Gaza war, said. “In the long term, they may push another American Middle Eastern ally away from the U.S. sphere of influence, and reinforce concerns harbored by many U.S. partners about the quality and steadfastness of U.S. support when needed the most.”
Video circulating on X shows a playground in Beersheva that was reportedly hit by one of Hamas rockets.
(Video: YouTube)
David M Friedman, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel during the Trump administration, echoed Conricus’s sentiments.
“Hamas now firing rockets from Rafah into Beer Sheva — Israel’s largest southern city,” he stated. “Why wouldn’t they? — they have no fear of a reprisal. Biden has emboldened Hamas!”
Hamas now firing rockets from Rafah into Beer Sheva — Israel’s largest southern city. Why wouldn’t they? — they have no fear of a reprisal. Biden has emboldened Hamas!
— David M Friedman (@DavidM_Friedman) May 10, 2024
Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is “drafting Biden impeachment articles over ‘Quid Pro Joe.'”
“Joe Biden is pressuring Israel, our biggest ally in the Middle East, by pausing their funding that has already been approved in the House, if they don’t stop all operations with Hamas,” Mills said on Thursday. “It’s a very clear message, ‘this for that.'”
“These are the same accusations made against President Trump, which resulted in his impeachment by Democrats,” Mills noted. “The same must happen for Joe Biden, which is why we’re drawing up articles of impeachment now.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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