WASHINGTON: The United States paused sending a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel would launch a full-scale offensive on Rafah, a senior administration official said.
Associated Press cited an official as saying that the shipment was supposed to consist of around 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and about 1,700 500-pound bombs. The official told the AP on the condition of anonymity that the decision to pause the shipment was taken last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the transfer of arms at a later date.
Over 1 million civilians are taking shelters in Rafah following evacuating other parts of Gaza amid Israel’s war on Gaza, which came after the group’s deadly and surprise attack on Israel on October 7.
Biden’s administration in April started reviewing future transfers of military help to Israel as Benjamin Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an offensive of Rafah, despite months of opposition from Washington.
Meanwhile, Biden’s administration is set to miss Wednesday’s deadline to report to US Congress on whether Israel is using US-provided arms to violate humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. According to Reuters Biden issued a National Security Memorandum in February, requiring the State Department to report to US Congress by May 8 over the credibility of Israel’s pledges that its use of American arms has not violated international law.
Gaza Health Ministry said that more than 34,789 people including women and children have been killed in brutal Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7. It further said that over 78,204 people have been wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
