Washington DC: US President Joe Biden on Wednesday publicly warned Israel for the first time that the US would stop supplying it weapons if Israeli forces make a major invasion of Rafah, a refugee-packed city in southern Gaza.

“I made it clear that 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.

Biden's comments represent his strongest public language to date in his effort to deter an Israeli assault on Rafah while underscoring a growing rift between the US and its strongest ally in the Middle East.

Biden acknowledged US weapons have been used by Israel to kill civilians in Gaza, where Israel has mounted a seven-month-old offensive aimed at annihilating Hamas. Israel's campaign has so far killed 34,789 Palestinians, mostly civilians, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," he said when asked about 2,000-pound bombs sent to Israel.

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington had carefully reviewed the delivery of weapons that might be used in Rafah and as a result paused a shipment consisting of 1,800 2,000-pound (907-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.

Israel's UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, earlier this week called Washington's decision to delay shipments "very disappointing" although he did not believe the US would stop supplying arms to Israel.

Israel this week attacked Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge, but Biden said he did not consider Israel’s strikes a full-scale invasion because they have not struck “population centers.”

The interview was released hours after Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III acknowledged publicly Biden’s decision last week to hold up the delivery of thousands of heavy bombs was taken out of concern for Rafah, where Washington opposes a major Israeli invasion without civilian safeguards.

Israel's campaign in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. That killed about 1,200 people with about 250 others abducted, of whom 133 are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, and it accelerated deliveries after the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.

In 2016, the US and Israeli governments signed a third 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that provides $38 billion in military aid over the 10 years, $33 billion in grants to buy military equipment and $5 billion for missile defense system. Last month, congress approved $26 billion in additional funding for Israel.

Biden said the US would continue to provide defensive weapons to Israel, including for its Iron Dome air defense system.

“We’re going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently," he said. "But it’s, it’s just wrong. We’re not going to – we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells."

SOURCE: REUTERS

Quetta: The country was once again shaken by the earthquake as severe tremors of 3.3 magnitude earthquake were felt in Quetta and its surroundings on Thursday.

According to the seismometer, the magnitude of the earthquake was 3.3, and the depth was 30 km. The epicentre was 23 kilometres south of Quetta.

After the earthquake, fear spread everywhere and people came out of the buildings reciting Holy verses. However, no loss of life or property was reported.

Lahore: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Thursday started the pre-Hajj operation and the first Hajj flight PK-717 from Lahore departed for Madinah.

329 Hajj pilgrims departed from the first Hajj flight which was seen off by PIA Chief Project Officer Khurram Mushtaq. A grand ceremony was also organized to see off the Hajj pilgrims at Lahore Airport.

Chief Project Officer Khurram Mushtaq said that Hajj pilgrims should remember Pakistan and PIA in their prayers. PIA has formed special Hajj teams to facilitate pilgrims in Pakistan and Madinah. PIA is transporting pilgrims to Madinah and Jeddah.

It is pertinent to note that PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat is directly supervising the Hajj operation, special arrangements were made for the pilgrims at Lahore Airport.

Earlier in the night, the first flight of the private airline carrying 150 Hajj pilgrims departed from Karachi International Airport for Madinah while the second flight from Karachi arrived in Saudi Arabia carrying 180 pilgrims. The officials bid farewell to the pilgrims.

Under the government scheme, the Hajj operation which started today will continue till June 9 and 68,000 pilgrims will reach the Holy Hijaz through 259 Hajj flights. Under the Road to Makkah project, the Saudi authorities are conducting the immigration of Hajj pilgrims in Karachi.