Netanyahu says Israel ‘will stand alone’ if it must, after Biden remarks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will “stand alone” if it has to, in a veiled message to President Biden’s threat about withholding weapons.

“If Israel has to stand alone, we will stand alone,” Netanyahu said in a statement, The Associated Press reported. “If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than our fingernails.”

Netanyahu’s statements are similar to remarks he made Sunday in a Holocaust Remembrance Day speech. He also reposted the remarks to social media Thursday.

Biden warned Israel on Wednesday that if it proceeds with an invasion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people are taking refuge, he would stop supplying offensive weapons like bombs and artillery shells.

Civilians have been killed in Gaza “as a consequence of those bombs,” Biden said, and he “made it clear” that if Israel goes into Rafah, the U.S. will not supply the weapons.

Netanyahu’s message was aimed at the growing number of countries that have criticized Israel’s destruction of Gaza, the AP reported.

His message for the world leaders: “no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself.”

The White House has urged Israel to make a plan to evacuate the refugees before entering Rafah, but Netanyahu has been adamant about his plans to destroy Hamas, whom he claims are hiding in Rafah.

Israel has repeatedly threatened to invade the city, which is also a hub for humanitarian aid operations. Netanyahu claims that Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces must go in to secure the remaining hostages taken on Oct. 7.