An American official announced on Wednesday that the United States had suspended the shipment of bombs to Israel last week after the latter failed to address Washington’s “concerns” over the Israeli army’s plans to invade Rafah, located in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip and densely populated with refugees.
The senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration told “AFP” agency, requesting anonymity: “We suspended the shipment of one batch of weapons last week, consisting of 1800 bombs, each weighing a thousand pounds (907 kg), and 1700 bombs, each weighing 500 pounds (226 kg).”
He added, “We haven’t made a final decision on how to proceed with this shipment.”
The Biden administration made this decision when it appeared to them that Israel was about to launch a major ground operation in Rafah, a move opposed by Washington.
The senior US official stated that Israeli and American officials discussed alternatives, but “those discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns.”
He further explained, “When it appeared that Israeli leaders were approaching a decision point on such an operation, we began a careful review of specific weapons transfer operations to Israel that could be used in Rafah. That started in April.”
He clarified that Washington is “particularly focused” on the heavier bombs, each weighing two thousand pounds, “and the impact they could have in densely populated urban areas as we have seen in other parts of Gaza.”
According to the American official, the State Department in Washington is reviewing other arms transfer operations, including the use of precision bomb groups known as JDAMs.
Interruption of “Boeing” Production Shipments
Before that, four informed sources told “Reuters” that President Joe Biden’s administration suspended the shipment of certain weapons produced by “Boeing” to Israel, while two sources confirmed it was apparently a political message to the close ally of the United States.
The weapons shipments, delayed for at least two weeks, include Joint Direct Attack Munitions manufactured by “Boeing,” which turn unguided bombs into precision-guided ones, in addition to small-diameter bombs.
The sources did not provide further details, including the political nature of the delivery delay. However, this comes at a time when Washington is publicly urging Israel to postpone its attack on Rafah until a plan is devised to avoid civilian casualties.
Sources: Biden Administration Misses Deadline for Congress Report
Four sources reported that the Biden administration would miss the Wednesday deadline for submitting a report to Congress on whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, findings that may fuel concerns about its use of weapons supplied by Washington against the Palestinian territory.
A memo from the National Security Council known as (NSM-20), issued by Biden in February, requires the State Department to submit a report to Congress by May 8 on the reliability of Israel’s assurances that its use of American weapons does not violate US or international laws.
The four sources mentioned that the US administration notified congressional committees that it would not meet the deadline, but hopes to present its results within days. Congressional aides said they had no indication that the delay was politically motivated.
Reuters reported last month that some senior US officials found Israel’s assurances lacking credibility. The Reuters report, along with investigations conducted by external organizations such as Amnesty International, prompted some lawmakers to urge the Biden administration not to favor Israel in the report.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen told reporters, “I’ve had a lot of conversations… with people in the administration, and really urged them to make sure this report is credible, based on facts and law, not on what they want it to be.”
Protests in America
Washington’s provision of military aid to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has sparked protests across the United States calling on universities and Biden to stop supporting Israel, including arms shipments.
In Washington, many Democratic allies of Biden called for a long-term change in US policy, which involves providing unconditional military support to Israel.
Representative Jason Crow said that Israel’s assurances of compliance with US law “are not credible.” Crow prepared a letter to Biden from more than 80 Democratic lawmakers confirming that there is sufficient evidence that Israel violated international law and hindered the delivery of US aid to Gaza.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press conference that the (NSM-20) report has not been finalized yet, but the department is working “diligently” to complete it. He added, “It may be delayed a little, but we are still in the process of trying to finish it by Wednesday.”
The memorandum prohibits any recipient of US military aid from placing restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The deadline for submitting the report comes amid fears of famine in Gaza and calls from the United States and other countries and international bodies for Israel not to launch a major attack on Rafah, which Israel says is the last stronghold of Hamas fighters but also the refuge for more than a million Palestinian civilians.
