Blinken defends decision to pause 3,500 bombs delivery to 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 May 2024 19:42
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The US Secretary of State says the US paused a shipment of 3,500 bombs to "Israel" due to concerns about their potential use in the densely populated Rafah.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained on ABC News' This Week that the US has temporarily halted a shipment of 3,500 bombs, made up of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs, to "Israel", allegedly for concerns that they would potentially be used in Rafah, where approximately 1.4 million Palestinians were forcefully displaced to under the pretext of a "safe zone".

Blinken claimed that this suspension is specific to this shipment and is based on the absence of a credible Israeli plan to protect Palestinians in Rafah. He also reiterated US President Joe Biden’s commitment to supporting "Israel's" right to "defend itself", noting that further restrictions on arms deliveries might be considered if "Israel" proceeds with a full-scale invasion of Rafah.

Earlier, according to Blinken, Biden had made a clear statement addressing Tel Aviv, alleging that if Israeli occupation forces launch this major military operation on Rafah, "then there are certain systems that we're not going to be supporting and supplying for that operation," adding, "We have real concerns about the way they're used."

Biden further told Tel Aviv, as cited by Blinken, that "Israel" needs to "have a clear, credible plan to protect civilians, which we haven't seen."

Biden admits 'Israel' killed Palestinian civilians using US bombs

This comes after Biden, on Wednesday, May 9, admitted that the Israeli occupation has killed civilians in Gaza using bombs supplied by the United States, marking the first instance of such an admission by any US official since the genocidal war on the Strip began last October.

His remarks came during an interview for CNN, where he also commented on the recent Israeli invasion of Rafah.

Earlier this week, the US administration paused a shipment of more than 3,000 heavy bombs, citing concerns that they could be used on Rafah.

"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told CNN's Erin Burnett during the interview.