White Home pauses cargo of some weapons to Israel

The White Home final week paused a cargo of weapons to Israel, as Israeli leaders closed in on a call to launch an operation within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, a senior administration official mentioned Tuesday. 

Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday in testimony to Congress that “we paused one cargo of excessive payload munitions.”

In the meantime, Israel’s navy introduced Tuesday the launch of “focused strikes” in opposition to Hamas in Rafah, which Israel has mentioned is Hamas’ final stronghold, after Israel’s Struggle Cupboard accepted a navy operation within the metropolis. 

The U.S. has lengthy held that Israel should not launch such a significant floor operation in Rafah, the place greater than 1 million individuals are taking shelter after fleeing different components of Gaza. However the US’ considerations in discussions with Israel about addressing humanitarian wants in Rafah and strategy Hamas haven’t been sufficiently addressed, the senior administration official mentioned. When Israeli leaders appeared near a call on Rafah, the Biden administration started to evaluation upcoming transfers of weapons that may very well be utilized in Rafah, and in consequence, paused one cargo final week, the official mentioned. 

That stalled cargo incorporates 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, the previous of which the Biden administration was significantly involved might do extreme injury in city areas, the official mentioned. The senior administration official mentioned the U.S. hasn’t but determined proceed on this specific cargo. 

Information of the weapons pause comes after days of the administration downplaying the likelihood that it delayed a cargo. 

Israeli tanks on Tuesday took management of the Gaza facet of the Rafah border close to Egypt, as Israel’s operation continues. Which means Gaza’s two key support corridors are shut. 

The senior administration official mentioned the paused cargo has nothing to do with the funding for Israel Congress handed final month. 

Israel has lengthy been threatening a floor assault on Rafah, and confirmed the start of the Rafah operation after Israel mentioned a cease-fire proposal Hamas agreed to is “removed from assembly Israel’s core calls for.” 

Stop-fire talks are persevering with within the Center East and CIA director Invoice Burns is in Israel Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

The USA’ determination to pause the weapons cargo — and a senior administration official’s willingness to share the reasoning for the pause — level to the Biden administration’s rising concern over how Israel’s actions are harming Palestinian civilians.