U.S> President Joe Biden has decided to pause a shipment of certain offensive weapons, including thousands of bombs, to Israel amid concerns over Israel’s planned military operation in the densely populated city of Rafah in Gaza.[1][2][3][5]
The key reasons behind Biden’s decision are:
- Concerns over potential harm to Palestinian civilians in Rafah, which has a population of over 1 million, many of whom have already evacuated to seek safety from the ongoing conflict.[1][3][5]
- Doubts about Israel’s intentions and ability to protect civilians during the planned Rafah operation, despite repeated U.S. warnings and requests for a credible civilian protection plan.[3][5]
- Belief that existing U.S. laws, such as the Leahy Law, should have restricted military aid to Israel long ago due to evidence of human rights abuses during the war in Gaza.[1]
- An attempt to exert U.S. influence and potentially enforce human rights laws against Israel, as the U.S. has provided Israel with $4 billion annually through 2028 and Israel is increasingly reliant on this aid.[1][2]
The decision to pause the weapons shipment is a temporary administrative measure, but it could signal a shift in U.S. policy if the pause continues or expands to other aid.[1][2] Biden has stated that his commitment to Israel’s security remains unwavering, but he believes Israel has used American weapons to kill civilians in the war on Hamas.[2]
Citations:
[1] https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2024/5/8/24152329/weapons-shipment-bombs-israel-pause-gaza-rafah
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pausing-military-aid-key-tool-presidents-foreign-policy/story?id=110117137
[3] https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/09/politics/inside-bidens-public-ultimatum/index.html
[4] https://www.newsweek.com/biden-withholding-aid-israel-sure-looks-impeachable-opinion-1898978
[5] https://www.voanews.com/a/us-withholds-weapons-as-israel-launches-operation-in-rafah/7604206.html