Resuming suspended US arms shipments to 'Israel' now possible
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KAN says the director-general of the Israeli Security Ministry raised the issue of the suspended weapons shipment during meetings with senior officials in Washington.
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An Israeli soldier carries a howitzer shell near the border with Lebanon, Thursday, January 11, 2024. (AP)
It is now possible to send the US weapons shipment that was previously suspended to "Israel", as the Biden administration recognizes that the incoming Trump administration would have approved it, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported, citing an American source.
In early May, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the United States halted a shipment of bombs to "Israel" over concerns about their potential use in the invasion of Rafah.
KAN mentioned that the Director-General of the Israeli Security Ministry, Eyal Zamir, raised the issue of the suspended weapons shipment during meetings with senior officials in Washington.
Zamil pointed out that "Israel" is increasing its domestic weapons production amid the arms embargo imposed by several countries.
Despite the US administration's suspension of a specific weapons shipment to "Israel", it has continued to export other arms shipments.
This has been accompanied by unlimited military and political support for "Israel" during its aggression on Gaza and Lebanon.
In mid-November, the United States announced that "Israel" has not violated US law regarding humanitarian aid entry into Gaza but stressed the need for additional efforts to improve the situation on the ground.
The assessment follows a letter sent last month by outgoing President Joe Biden's administration, in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed alarm over Gaza's humanitarian crisis and warned "Israel" of potential military aid consequences if aid flow benchmarks weren't met by November 13.
When asked if "Israel" had met the outlined criteria, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed that no violation of US law had been determined.
"The overall humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be unsatisfactory," Patel said, but noted that recent actions by "Israel", though limited, are "steps in the right direction."
Benchmarks not met
The Biden administration's original letter demanded "Israel" allow at least 350 aid trucks per day into Gaza as part of broader aid benchmarks. Although this target was not fully met, Patel claimed that "some progress" had been made, including new crossings into Gaza to facilitate aid deliveries.
He added that the US will keep assessing "Israel's" compliance with international law and may adjust its stance if substantial progress is not maintained.
"We want to see these steps sustained over a significant period of time, and ultimately, we want to see these steps have a tangible impact on the situation," Patel stated while reiterating the administration's commitment to ongoing evaluation.
