The United States has put a hold on a significant bomb shipment to Israel amid escalating concerns over a possible full-scale Israeli assault on the densely populated Gaza city of Rafah. This move marks a pronounced moment of discord between longstanding allies as Washington urges greater precautions to protect civilian lives.
According to officials, the suspended shipment includes 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, munitions that have raised particular concern given their potential use in urban combat. With over a million civilians taking refuge in Rafah, following evacuations from other parts of Gaza, the implications of such firepower in an already dire humanitarian situation are profound.
The halt arrives at a critical juncture, as Israel has intensified its military campaign against Hamas, the militant group responsible for a deadly attack on Israel on October 7. This escalation has included the capture of Gaza’s critical Rafah border crossing, a move that the White House has described as limited, avoiding a full-on invasion that President Joe Biden has repeatedly counseled against due to humanitarian concerns.
Internally, U.S. officials have voiced apprehensions about the unfolding situation in Rafah, though public statements have emphasized that Israeli operations have not yet crossed the lines of Biden’s warnings. However, the suspension of the bomb shipment is a tangible indicator of U.S. unease and is perceived as the most striking sign of growing tensions between the administrations of Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Biden administration, which began reviewing future military assistance to Israel as Netanyahu’s government appeared to inch closer to a Rafah operation, has now made the unprecedented decision to pause a planned weapons transfer. While no final decision has been made on whether to continue the shipment at a later date, the move is indicative of the administration’s especial focus on the use of large explosives in dense urban settings.
Moreover, the suspension dovetails with an imminent Biden administration report assessing whether Israel’s airstrikes and restrictions on aid delivery have breached international and U.S. laws meant to protect civilians from the horrors of war. This report could add further pressure to curtail military aid to Israel’s military if findings are unfavorable.
The recent strain between the U.S. and Israel is not without historical precedent. There have been moments throughout their alliance when U.S. leaders have leveraged aid to influence Israeli decisions, dating back to President Dwight Eisenhower’s sanctions during the Suez Crisis to President George H.W. Bush’s withholding of loan guarantees to halt settlement activity in the occupied territories.
Relevant articles:
– US Paused Bomb Shipment to Israel to Signal Concerns over Rafah Invasion, Official Says, Military, 05/08/2024
– Israel frustrated U.S. paused weapons shipment over Rafah assault concerns, official says, NBC News, 05/08/2024
– US paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says, The Associated Press, 05/08/2024
– U.S. Halts Bomb Shipment To Israel Amid Concerns Over Rafah Op., i24NEWS, 05/08/2024
– Hamas war: US halts bomb shipment over Rafah concerns – DW – 05/08/2024, DW (English), 05/08/2024