The United States government has halted a shipment of bombs to Israel due to concerns it might target the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
An official revealed this development on Tuesday, marking the first instance in the conflict where President Joe Biden has constrained military assistance to the crucial US ally.
The US suspended the delivery of 1,800 2,000-lb (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-lb (226 kg) bombs after Israel failed to “fully address” US apprehensions about a significant ground incursion, as per the official.
This action comes as the White House criticized the “unacceptable” closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after Israel dispatched tanks earlier on Tuesday — though still expressing hope for a ceasefire with Hamas.
This pause in weaponry delivery signifies the initial move by Biden following his warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in April, stipulating that US policy concerning Gaza would hinge on Israel’s treatment of civilians.
According to the US official, the Biden administration decided on weapon shipments when it appeared that Israel was on the brink of a major ground offensive into Rafah, a move strongly opposed by Washington as over a million people are seeking shelter there.
Discussions between Israeli and US officials regarding alternatives have been ongoing, but “those discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns”, said the senior US official, speaking anonymously.
“As Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision point on such an operation, we began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah. This began in April.”
The US official emphasized Washington’s scrutiny on the use of the heaviest 2,000-lb bombs “and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts of Gaza.”
“We have not made a final determination on how to proceed with this shipment,” the official stated.
The US State Department is still evaluating other weapons transfers, including the use of precision bomb kits known as JDAMs, the official added.
Earlier, the White House stated that Israel had assured the military action into Rafah earlier Tuesday was a “limited operation” and not the anticipated full-scale invasion.
Biden’s decision, amid a challenging reelection campaign in November against Republican opponent Donald Trump, reflects mounting domestic pressure over his backing of Israel, with widespread protests at US universities resulting in police interventions and thousands of arrests.
Republicans have intensified political pressure, with US House Speaker Mike Johnson criticizing any move to curtail military aid.
“Just when we thought it was only university presidents who are caving into the absurd demands of the pro-Hamas students, the president himself has now reportedly halted ammunition shipments to Israel,” Johnson remarked to reporters before the official US announcement.
Johnson argued that such a move undermines a substantial aid package with military assistance for Israel and Ukraine that Congress approved after months of delays in April — although the US official clarified that the suspended shipment was not connected to that package.
However, Biden’s action increases pressure on Israel to conclude the seven-month conflict and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza more actively.
“The crossings that have been closed need to be reopened; it is unacceptable for them to be closed,” stated White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a briefing over Israel’s seizure of the Rafah crossing earlier on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt recommenced on Tuesday.
“A close assessment of the two sides’ positions suggests that they should be able to close the remaining gaps, and we’re going to do everything we can to support that process,” remarked US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
The conflict was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel initiated a retaliatory offensive that has claimed the lives of at least 34,789 people in Gaza, primarily women and children, as per the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
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