The Biden administration paused an arms shipment to Israel because of fears that the country might attack Rafah, a city in southern Gaza — a move that the U.S. has strongly disagreed with.
The shipment was supposed to include around 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, as stated by a senior administration official told by the Associated Press on Tuesday.
More than a million civilians sought shelter in Rafah after being evacuated from other parts of Gaza due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The U.S. has expressed concerns about the Israeli military using the larger explosives in the densely populated urban area.
Israeli officials were uncertain about the reason for the delay, as reported by Axios, which initially reported broke the news of the shipment delay last week.
This development follows the commitment of the Biden administration to provide $26 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel, continuing its strong support for Israel against the militant group. In a recent statement to The Hill, the National Security Council reaffirmed that its support remains unchanged.
“The United States has increased its security assistance to Israel since the October 7 attacks, passed the largest ever emergency assistance appropriation for Israel, led a coalition to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, and will continue to take necessary measures to ensure Israel's defense against the threats it faces,” said a NSC spokesperson.
Israel began Israeli forces carried out “targeted strikes” in eastern Rafah late Monday, despite concerns from many about the impact of military action on the civilians seeking shelter there.
Israel also took control of the Gazan side of the crossing at Rafah, the sole entry point between the territory and Egypt and crucial for the flow of humanitarian assistance.
The Hill has contacted the White House for a response.
The Associated Press contributed.
