World
US Partially Authorizes Weapons Shipment to Israel
The United States has partially approved a shipment of weapons to Israel, stirring controversy and raising concerns. Learn more about the decision and its implications.
The United States is set to authorize a portion of a weapons shipment to Israel that had been withheld earlier in the year due to concerns regarding civilian casualties in Gaza. A U.S. official, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, confirmed on Thursday that 1,700 500-pound bombs will be sent to Israel. These bombs were initially part of a shipment that also included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs, which will not be sent.
President Biden had halted the original shipment to prevent the larger bombs from being used during Israel’s operations in Rafah, Gaza. This marks the first instance of Mr. Biden using his authority to influence Israel’s actions by restricting arms shipments.
The decision to withhold the 2,000-pound bombs is based on concerns over potential civilian casualties or injuries in Gaza. A previous investigation by The New York Times revealed the significant harm caused to Palestinian civilians by American 2,000-pound bombs during the conflict that began after Hamas’ attack on Israel in October.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, indirectly referenced the U.S. decision regarding the bombs in a statement released after a meeting with Brett McGurk, the top White House official for Middle East affairs.
During the meeting, Mr. McGurk informed Mr. Gallant about the upcoming delivery of crucial munitions, some of which will be dispatched to Israel in the coming days.
When Mr. Biden initially paused the shipment, he faced pressure to suspend or stop all arms deliveries to Israel. However, he chose to support Israel’s efforts to combat Hamas.
Analysts highlight that while smaller bombs have less explosive impact compared to the 2,000-pound bombs, they can still result in significant harm, especially in vulnerable areas like tent camps.
The 250-pound GBU-39, another American-made weapon, has become increasingly favored by the Israeli military. This weapon was used in a tragic attack on a tent camp in Rafah on May 26, where 45 people were reported killed by Gazan health authorities.