Biden Administration Halts Shipment of Bombs to Israel over Concerns of Imminent Assault on Gaza City

Exclusive: US Stops Shipment of Bombs to Israel Due to Concerns of Impending Gaza City Assault

By [Your Name], News Writer

WASHINGTON (YourNewsSite) – The Biden administration temporarily halted a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over deep concerns that the country may be preparing for a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the United States, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed today.

The shipment, which would have consisted of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, raised particular concerns over the use of larger explosives in the densely populated Rafah, where over 1 million civilians are currently seeking shelter following the evacuation of other parts of Gaza after Israel’s war on Hamas, triggered by the militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The U.S. has long provided substantial military aid to Israel, which has further increased in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack that claimed the lives of over 1,200 individuals in Israel, with another 250 being taken captive by militants. Pausing the aid shipment highlights a growing divide between Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the Biden administration, which has urged Israel to take more measures in safeguarding the lives of civilians in Gaza.

Growing Pressure on Biden

The delayed arms supply comes as the Biden administration is set to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict on whether the airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on aiding the region have breached international and U.S. laws designed to protect civilians from the worst atrocities of war. An unfavorable decision against Israel would intensify pressure on Biden to curb the flow of monetary and weapons support to Israel’s military.

Biden Pressured into Halting the Shipment

According to U.S. officials who were not authorized to speak on the matter, Biden authorized the pause in a recent order conveyed to the Pentagon. The halt was initially kept out of the public’s sight until the White House National Security Council deemed it necessary to have a more accurate understanding of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a planned speech on Tuesday to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Biden’s administration had already been reviewing future military assistance transfers since April as Netanyahu’s government appeared to be inching closer to an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. Though the decision to pause the shipment was made last week, whether the shipment will proceed at a later date is yet to be finalized.

Inconsistent Messaging

The Biden administration’s move to hold up the arms transfer has raised questions, given Biden’s recent rhetoric reaffirming the “ironclad” U.S. support for Israel. When asked about the inconsistency, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, “Two things could be true.”

Disappointment and Calls for Action

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, described the decision to pause the shipment as “very disappointing, even frustrating.” Erdan suggested that political pressure coming from the Congress, U.S. campus protests, and the upcoming election may have influenced the move.

In response to news of the military aid holdup, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressed their discontent, stating that they only learned about the holdup through press reports, despite assurances from the Biden administration that no such delays were in progress. The Republicans have called on Biden to swiftly end the holdup, emphasizing that it “risks emboldening Israel’s enemies,” and also demanded a briefing on the nature of policy reviews.

Pushing for a More Balanced Approach

While facing criticism from both the left and right, Biden’s allies, such as Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, view the pause on larger bombs as a necessary “first step.” Sanders asserted that the U.S. has significant leverage through the longtime provision of military aid to Israel and, as such, should no longer be complicit in what he perceives as Netanyahu’s unacceptable war on the Palestinian people.

Focus on Precision

Defense Secretary Austin, appearing before lawmakers, highlighted the importance of having the right weapons for specific tasks. He acknowledged that smaller, precision weapons such as the small diameter bombs are more effective in densely built-up environments like Rafah, as opposed to larger bombs that pose a higher risk of collateral damage. Austin affirmed the U.S.’ desire to see Israel pursuing more precise military operations.

Amid the ongoing tensions, Israeli forces took control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing in what the White House referred to as a limited operation, stopping short of a full-scale invasion that Biden has repeatedly warned against due to humanitarian reasons. The evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from the city of Rafah was ordered by Israel, with targeted strikes also carried out in the eastern part of Rafah. Israeli forces have captured the Rafah crossing, which serves as a critical conduit for humanitarian aid along the Gaza-Egypt border.

In previous occasions, the U.S.-Israel relationship has weathered moments of tension, with its leaders leveraging threats to hold up aid as a means to influence Israeli actions. Therefore, the recent pause in the shipment of bombs echoes historical occurrences where U.S. leaders have taken such measures.

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Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, and Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.