US Halts Bomb Shipment to Israel Amid Concerns Over Potential Use in Rafah
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Biden administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel due to concerns over a potential major offensive on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than half of Gazan civilians are thought to be taking refuge.
The Details: The halted shipment included bombs ranging from 500 to 2,000 pounds. This is the first time the U.S. has paused a weapons shipment to Israel since Oct. 7.
For Context: Rafah is home to over 1.2 million Palestinian civilians. It's been the focus of recent IDF activities after Israeli intelligence reportedly suggested it's being "used for terrorist purposes." Israel ordered civilians to evacuate parts of Rafah this week, and Israeli forces took control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing.
How The Media Covered It: The Guardian (Lean Left bias) said Israel plans to "invade" Rafah, and reported that in recent months, Israel's "use of certain munitions diverged from the Pentagon’s rules on the use of such weapons in heavily populated urban settings." Breitbart (Right) said Israel planned to attack "Hamas battalions in the town of Rafah," and pointed out how the news "came on Israel’s Holocaust memorial day, hours after President Joe Biden told Jews: 'Never again.'"
Why the Difference?: Some think Israel has no regard for the safety of Palestinian citizens, and may even be actively targeting them or trying to hinder aid shipments. Others trust Israel's military to focus on eliminating Hamas combatants while minimizing civilian casualties. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Report: U.S. Admits Withholding Bombs from Israel to Stop Rafah Attack
The U.S. withheld certain bombs from Israel to prevent their use in an attack on Hamas battalions in the town of Rafah, according to multiple news reports Tuesday evening.
The news, ironically, came on Israel’s Holocaust memorial day, hours after President Joe Biden told Jews: “Never again.”
The reports confirmed stories that first appeared in Axios earlier in the week. The White House, when asked on Monday and Tuesday, refused to confirm or deny withholding weapons from Israel. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted merely that U.S. support for Israeli security was “ironclad.”
From the Left
US paused weapons shipment to Israel amid concern over Rafah, senior US official says
The Biden administration paused the supply of thousands of large bombs to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by the Israelis to invade the Gaza city of Rafah, US officials have confirmed.
The US president, Joe Biden, has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by Israel against the southern city, where more than a million displaced Palestinian have sought refuge from combat elsewhere in Gaza.
The highly significant move comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to pull back from a full-scale attack after its seizure on Tuesday of the...
From the Center
US confirms it’s holding up transfer of bombs, fearing Israel will use them in Rafah
The Biden administration confirms reports that it held up a shipment last week of 2,000 and 500-pound bombs that it fears Israel might use in a major ground operation in Rafah.
This is the first time since October 7 that the US has held up a weapons shipment earmarked for Israel.
Washington adamantly opposes a major offensive in the southern city of Gaza, convinced that there is no way for Israel to conduct one in a manner that would ensure the safety of the over million Palestinians sheltering there.
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