Amid Rafah Operation Concerns, US Pauses Bomb Shipment to Israel

The Biden administration paused a weapons shipment to Israel last week amid American concerns over Israel’s military operation in Rafah.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a  “senior administration official” told journalist Barak Ravid from Walla! that "We began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah beginning in April. As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-lb bombs and 1,700 500-lb bombs.” Ravid first broke the story on Sunday.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the Wall Street Journal wrote that the US held up a sale of up to 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM).

"We are especially focused on the end-use of the 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 said.

During yesterday’s press briefing, White House Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on specifics, but reiterated that the American commitment to Israel is “ironclad.” The same message was communicated by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Sabrina Singh.

“We are not supportive of a large ground incursion into Rafah. We are very concerned that – are over one million people sheltering there. We want to make sure that civilian casualties are limited, that there is no harm done. So we have made those concerns voiced both, both publicly and privately,” Singh said. 

Today (Wednesday), the State Department was meant to release a report to Congress on whether Israel has violated human rights during the war in Gaza. Politico reports that this report has been delayed, and that no updated timeline has been provided. 

Meanwhile, Israel has reopened the Kerem Shalom aid crossing into Gaza, which was closed on Sunday following a deadly Palestinian missile attack that killed four IDF soldiers. 

As Israel continues fighting terrorism in both the north and south, civilians remain constantly targeted by Hamas missiles from inside the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah missiles and drones from Lebanon. Last night, the IDF intercepted a target that made its way to the southern city of Eilat from the east.