Washington suspends bomb delivery to Israel over ‘concerns’ over Rafah

This delivery includes in particular 1,800 bombs weighing more than 900 kg, of which a senior American official said he feared “the impact” if they were used “in dense urban environments”.

Washington continues to harden its position towards its ally. The United States suspended the delivery of a shipment of bombs to Israel last week, a senior American official said on Tuesday, May 7, on condition of anonymity. A decision taken in the face of the lack of response to “concerns” concerning an announced Israeli offensive on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, he explained.

This delivery “consists of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs [907 kg] and 1,700 500-pound bombs [226 kg]“, declared this senior official. “We have not made a final decision on how to proceed with this shipment.”he added.

Israeli and U.S. officials have discussed alternatives to an Israeli army offensive in Rafah since April, but “These discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns”declared this senior American official.

Other arms transfers examined

He adds that Washington was “particularly concentrated” on the use of the heaviest bombs, 2,000 pounds, “and the impact they could have in dense urban environments like we have seen in other parts of Gaza.”

The US State Department is also examining other arms transfers, including those related to the use of precision bombs known as JDAM (remote guided bombs), the official added.

Republicans criticized the decision. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson on Tuesday denounced any measures aimed at limiting military aid to Israel. “Just when we thought only university presidents were giving in to the absurd demands of pro-Hamas students, the president himself has now reportedly cut off munitions shipments to Israel”he told journalists?