 "Why has the US delayed arms shipment to Israel?")
The Biden administration has taken a decisive step, delaying the sale of precision weapons to Israel, fueling speculation about the underlying dynamics of the US-Israel relationship. This move has sparked questions regarding whether the delay signifies a deliberate tactic to slow down the delivery of arms to Israel, its top Middle East ally, amidst increasing domestic political pressure.
Four sources told Reuters the shipments, which have been delayed for at least two weeks, involved Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions, which convert dumb bombs into precision-guided ones, as well as Small Diameter Bombs.
What was behind the US decision?
The decision to pause the shipment of bombs, comprising 1,800 2,000-pound and 1,700 500-pound bombs, was prompted by concerns over Israel’s potential launch of a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
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This move contradicts the wishes of the US, which has been advocating for restraint amid escalating tensions in the region. The focus of US concern revolves around the larger explosives and their potential impact in densely populated urban settings, where over a million civilians are seeking shelter.
“The US position has been that Israel should not launch a major ground operation in Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering with nowhere else to go,” an unnamed White House administration official told BBC.
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View All“We have been engaging in a dialogue with Israel in our Strategic Consultative Group format on how they will meet the humanitarian needs of civilians in Rafah, and how to operate differently against Hamas there than they have elsewhere in Gaza.”
“Those discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns. As Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision point on such an operation, we began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah. This began in April.”
“As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000lb bombs and 1,700 500lb bombs. 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.”
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The official added that “for certain other cases at the State Department, including JDAM [Joint Direct Attack Munition] kits, we are continuing the review. None of these cases involve imminent transfers - they are about future transfers”.
Is there a growing rift between Biden and Netanyahu?
The Biden administration’s decision underscores a growing divide between the current US administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite historical ties and extensive military aid provided by the US, the Biden administration has been vocal about urging Israel to exercise restraint and prioritise the protection of innocent civilians in Gaza.
The delay in the arms shipment represents a significant manifestation of the diverging approaches between the Biden administration and the Israeli government. This decision coincides with the Biden administration’s forthcoming assessment of whether Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on aid delivery have violated international and US laws aimed at minimising civilian casualties during conflicts.
Despite the arms holdup, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed US support for Israel, describing it as “ironclad” even amid disagreements. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have seized control of the Rafah border crossing, exacerbating tensions in the region. While the Biden administration remains engaged in tough diplomatic conversations with Israeli counterparts, the delay in arms shipments marks a significant development in the evolving dynamics of the US-Israel relationship.
Throughout history, the US-Israel relationship has endured moments of tension, with US leaders resorting to various measures to influence Israeli policies. Past instances include:
US President Dwight Eisenhower using the threat of sanctions to compel Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula during the Suez Crisis in 1957.
Ronald Reagan postponing the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
US President George H.W. Bush withholding $10 billion in loan guarantees to pressure Israel into halting settlement activity in the occupied territories.
What is the status of the shipment?
Although the US has put the shipment on hold, no final decision has been made regarding its ultimate fate. The State Department is separately reviewing the continued transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits to Israel, which play a crucial role in enhancing the precision of bombs. The delay in the arms shipment is not related to the recently passed $95 billion national security bill, which includes significant military aid for Israel.
The Pentagon stated on Monday that there hasn’t been an official policy decision to withhold arms from Israel.
However, these delays represent a departure from the Biden administration’s previous stance of unequivocal support for Israel, notably following the Hamas attack on 7 October, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and the abduction of around 250 individuals, with 133 still believed to be held captive in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s sustained military campaign against Hamas has resulted in a significant loss of life, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting that approximately 34,789 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, have been killed over the course of the seven-month conflict.
The dire humanitarian situation has pushed Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants to the brink of starvation, prompting protests in the United States calling for universities and Biden to withdraw support for Israel, including the provision of weaponry.
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A senior Israeli official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, did not confirm any specific hold-up in arms supplies but appeared to take the reports in stride: “As the prime minister has already said, if we have to fight with our fingernails, then we’ll do what we have to do.”
With inputs from agencies
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