To send political message to 'Israel', US holds bomb shipment
3 Min Read
The delayed supplies include Boeing's small diameter tail kits for unguided bombs, which are meant to improve target accuracy.
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An Israeli occupation tank drives away from the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied territories on May 6, 2024. (AP)
Sources have revealed to Politico that US President Joe Biden's administration has been delaying multiple weapons shipments to "Israel" for at least two weeks.
The site quoted a US official as saying Tuesday that Washington intended to convey a political message to "Israel", since it has reiterated it cannot back an Israeli attack on Rafah, the border city, without a proper and realistic humanitarian strategy, which the Israelis have ignored.
The delayed supplies include Boeing's small diameter tail kits for unguided bombs, which are meant to improve target accuracy, according to the source, who also mentioned that numerous direct commercial sales to "Israel" were being expedited.
A halt in new sales would make it difficult for the occupation to resupply previously used weapons.
In first, Biden admin. puts hold on ship carrying US arms to 'Israel'
Citing two Israeli officials, Axios reported two days ago that the Biden administration held up a shipment of US-made ammunition meant to be transferred to "Israel" – marking a first since October 7, Axios reported citing two Israeli officials.
The officials expressed that this raised major concerns inside the Israeli cabinet and made officials worried as to why it was held back last week.
This comes as the Biden administration voiced concern regarding "Israel" invading Rafah where more than one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering after their forced displacement from Gaza.
It is worth mentioning that back in February, Biden asked "Israel" to guarantee that its forces were using American-manufactured weapons in Gaza in conformity with international law, and the occupation signed a letter guaranteeing that in March despite not taking any action.
With that being said, Netanyahu, in his statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day Sunday, stated, "If we need to stand alone, we will stand alone."
Last week, two knowledgeable sources relayed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken conducted a "tough" conversation with Netanyahu regarding the Rafah invasion, during which the former said "a major military operation" in Rafah would instigate public opposition by the US and would negatively impact ties.
A day later, White House Spokesperson John Kirby claimed to reporters that "Israel" sees that Biden "is sincere" as he talks about the possibility of changes to US policy regarding the war "should they move ahead with some sort of ground operation in Rafah that doesn't take into account the refugees."
Just this week, democrat lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives urged Biden to consider halting arms sales to the Israeli regime if it does not change its approach to its war on the Gaza Strip.
88 Democratic members of Congress signed and delivered a letter to the White House, stating that Washington should take a firmer stance toward its Israeli ally. The lawmakers expressed "serious concerns regarding the Israeli government's conduct of the war in Gaza as it pertains to the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid."
