The leading House Republicans responsible for U.S. foreign and military matters strongly criticized the Biden administration on Wednesday for temporarily halting the delivery of around 3,000 large bombs to Israel.
Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the Armed Services Committee, stated the administration was undermining Israel’s position against threats from Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Republican House chairs expressed their dismay at the administration’s decision to pause crucial arms shipments to Israel, insisting that the administration must allow the shipments to proceed in order to uphold the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and enable Israel to defend itself and defeat Hamas.
The Biden administration recently confirmed that it had suspended a delivery of thousands of heavy bombs to Israel. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller clarified that the administration’s actions were driven by concerns over Israel’s military operation against Hamas in the southern Gazan city of Rafah and the escalating humanitarian crisis.
On Wednesday, Miller stated, “We have paused one shipment of near term assistance and we are reviewing others. In the context of the unfolding situation in Rafah, it is a place where we have very serious concerns, and that’s why we take the actions we take.”
Some Democrats have welcomed the temporary halt in providing U.S. offensive weapons, citing concerns that such weapons are contributing to a humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
However, opponents of the administration’s decision to halt arms transfers, including Republicans, question the U.S. commitment to Israel during intense negotiations for a cease-fire deal aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since they were kidnapped in an Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
McCaul and Rogers wrote, “At a time when Israel continues to negotiate in good faith to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, the administration’s shortsighted, strategic error calls into question its ‘unshakeable commitment’ as an ally.”
