The United States has made the decision to suspend a shipment of weapons to Israel, including heavy bombs that were being used in the campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza. This decision comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues a military assault on the Palestinian city of Rafah, despite objections from U.S. President Joe Biden.
The suspended shipment included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, which were part of an earlier approved shipment to Israel. The U.S. officials cited concerns about the impact these bombs could have in dense urban settings, particularly in light of the ongoing military operations in Rafah.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the U.S. is reviewing its security assistance to Israel in the context of the unfolding events in Rafah. The decision to block the bombs was made last week, with President Biden directly involved in the process.
Large bombs like the 2,000-pound ones can cause significant damage over a wide area, leading to severe injuries and casualties. The International Commission for the Red Cross has warned against the use of wide area explosives in densely populated areas due to the indiscriminate effects they can have.
Israel has denied targeting Palestinian civilians, emphasizing that their focus is on eliminating Hamas. However, the legality of using such bombs in Gaza, a densely populated area, remains a subject of debate. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating the Israel-Gaza conflict, with intentional attacks on civilians being considered a war crime.